Diagnosis
Meckel's diverticulitis with perforation and abscess formation
Findings & Discussion
US showed a circumscribed walled off roundish collection with increased
peripheral vascularity and floating internal debris. CT confirmed a slightly
irregularly shaped blind-end rim enhancing pouch in central abdomen,
continuous with distal small bowel loops, suggestive of Meckel's
diverticulitis. Gas densities are seen within the collection.
Meckel's diverticulitis is the inflammation of a Meckel's diverticulum,
which is the most common congenital structural abnormality of the
gastrointestinal tract. Despite this, it is an uncommon cause of acute
abdomen and is often not correctly diagnosed pre-operatively. Meckel
diverticula are seen in approximately 2% of the adult population and among
those with symptoms, males are disproportionately affected compared to
females in a ratio of 2-4:1
Patients usually present with acute pain in the right lower quadrant.
Painless rectal bleeding is also frequent.
Reference:
Sagar J, Kumar V, Shah DK. Meckel's diverticulum: a systematic review. J R
Soc Med. 2006 Oct;99(10):501-5. doi: 10.1177/014107680609901011. Erratum in:
J R Soc Med. 2007 Feb;100(2):69. PMID: 17021300; PMCID: PMC1592061.
