Neglected Appendicitis? One Patient Two Diagnosis? Differential Diagnosis of Acute Abdominal Pain

Abstract

Authors present a case report of a female patient, with 38-years-old, admitted with alithiasic acute pancreatitis. During the hospitalization on day 6 she referred migration of the pain to the lower right quadrant and had pain in decompression; she underwent a computed tomography scan that was compatible with acute appendicitis. She was admitted to the operating room and laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. Surgery and hospitalization were uneventful and she was discharged on the 10th day after admission. The purpose to present this case is related to need to draw doctors’ attention to do an accurate physical examination and a selective interpretation of diagnostic exams in order to make a correct differential diagnosis and guide treatment.

Keywords

• Abdominal Pain
• Appendicitis/diagnosis
• Pancreatitis