Giant Appendicolith in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Appendicitis : Case Report and Literature Review

Right iliac fossa pain remains a challenge for clinicians, since it requires considering several differential diagnoses. Acute appendicitis continues to be one of the most important diagnoses to confirm or to rule out in acute abdominal pain, due to the associated morbidity and mortality. Currently, imaging studies contribute to increase diagnostic certainty, but sometimes reveal unexpected findings, which may further complicate the diagnosis and therapeutic decisions. We present the case of an unusual image finding in the right iliac fossa, a calcification suggestive of gallstone ileus, in the context of an acute abdomen with an unusual transoperative finding, whose definitive diagnosis by pathology, was also rare.


Introduction
Although acute appendicitis remains as the most frequent abdominal emergency surgery, its diagnosis is a challenge for clinicians [1].Physiopathological principle to explain most cases of acute appendicitis is appendiceal lumen obstruction either by lymphoid hyperplasia, appendicoliths, tumors or foreign bodies.Surgical Science On the other hand, there are many causes for calcifications in the right iliac fossa: Gallstone ileus, renal or extruded vesical calculi, phlebolith, calcified uterine fibroid tumor, lithopedion, genitourinary tract calcifications, ovarian tumors, rejected renal allograft, calcified lymphatic ganglia, foreign bodies or radiologic artifact [4] [5].
Diagnosis would be determined by the clinician's experience, and if an unexpected finding comes out in image studies (like a right iliac fossa calcification), the accompanying signs and symptoms will determine the next step in the diagnostic approach.In the particular case of the Surgeon who evaluates an abdominal pain, these findings will make it even more complicated the decision of who should undergo a surgical procedure.
A case of a giant calcification at the right iliac fossa is presented, within the context of an acute abdomen.

Case Presentation
A 36-year-old female patient with a history of hyperthyroidism under management with thiamazol and propranolol, came to the emergency department, with a colicky abdominal pain of 48 hours of evolution, located in periumbilical region at the beginning, but migrating until reaching the right iliac fossa.It is accompanied by hyporexia and nausea.She reported having presented similar episodes of pain, which she attributed to colonic problems.These episodes resolved without specific management.Considering physical examination results, general lab tests were required.
White cell count showed discrete leukocytosis (12.7 × 10 9 /L) and neutrophilia (85%).Liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, or general urine analysis were not altered.Abdominal tomography with intravenous contrast was requested where no pneumobilia or renal dilatation was documented (Figure 1).Both ureters had normal morphology.Bowel loop dilatation, cul-de-sac free fluid, and inflammatory pericecal ganglia of more than 10 mm, were observed.Cecal appendix was 19 mm in diameter in its major axis and with a fecalith inside (2.2 ×

cm).
A broad-spectrum antibiotic (Amoxicillin-clavulanate) coverage was initiated, and the patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy, where it could be observed: considerable inflammatory fluid (230 mL) in cursive, a retroileal appendix covered by a layer of fibrin and very increased in size towards its base.It was dissected with harmonic scalpel, closing its base with endoloops.Patient was discharged 36 hours after admission, without pain, normal blood count and adequate oral tolerance.The histopathological study reported a cecal appendix of 1.7 cm in its greater diameter with changes compatible with chronic appendicitis and periapendicitis, with zones of acute appendicitis secondary to a fecalith of 2 cm diameter (Figure 2).

Discussion
Fecaliths are fecal matter conglomerates with mineral deposits formed within intestinal lumen.They are presented in about 3% in the general population.
Some cases of intestinal occlusion due to fecaliths have been described in ileum [6], cecum [7] or even in rectum [8].Fecaliths in colonic diverticula have also been mentioned to increase the possibility of inflammation and perforation.
An appendicolith is formed when a fecalith hosts in cecal appendix lumen.It represents a well-known cause of acute appendicitis and a reason of intermittent chronic abdominal pain [9].It was Fitz, who since 1886, identified them as a major cause in the inflation of the appendix [10].In several trials, appendicoliths have been reported as the cause of 20% -40% acute appendicitis.This usually occurs in male patients under 35 years of age, who have a retrocecal appendix location [11] [12] [13].Commonly, appendicolith measures less than 1 cm in diameter.They are called giant appendicoliths when they measure more than 2 cm, and are extremely rare [14] [15].The largest appendicolith reported in literature was 3.5 cm in diameter in a patient with Crohn disease and stump appendicitis [16].
A particular fact in relation to appendicoliths is that these are responsible of most cases of "stump appendicitis".This is because of two reasons: 1) the presence of a fecalith in the beginning of the appendix that is being resected, causes a misidentification of the base, leaving the fecalith retained with its consequent inflammation hours later or 2) a newly formed fecalith, which is impacted by a long appendicular stump (>5 mm), obstructs and become inflamed [17].
On the other hand, the relationship between appendicoliths and chronic appendicitis is well established.It is induced by partial obstructions in appendicular lumen that are solved spontaneously.Its incidence is about 1.5% in the general population.Laparoscopic appendectomy is recommended by some authors in chronic abdominal pain cases, where an appendicolith is evident with any image method [18] [19].
In several studies, appendicoliths were suggested as 100% specific for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis [20] [21] however, further reports demonstrated the possibility of appendicoliths without acute appendicitis [22] [23] [24].Their finding in a tomography has a 65% sensibility, 86% specificity and a 74% positive predictive value for acute appendicitis diagnosis [21].That is, if a appendicolith is associated to abdominal pain, an acute appendicitis possibility is almost 90% and the risk of gangrenous appendicitis and early appendicular perforation is more than 50%, especially if it measures more than 5 mm in diameter and is located at the base of the appendix [15] [25] [26].Surgical Science   cytosis.Surgery findings were in agreement with an acute appendicitis.Procedure was achieved by laparoscopy, and giant appendicolith suspicion was then confirmed, identifying the base of the appendix properly.Retrospectively, pathologists' analysis was a relevant contribution for the precise diagnostic.There were eosinophils and lymphocytes infiltrated areas which mean chronicity and polymorphonuclears infiltrated on wall areas which mean acute inflammation.
Besides, recurrent episodes of abdominal pain, allowed the last piece of the puzzle elucidation.
Right iliac fossa pain is a real challenge due to the differential diagnostic factors.Moreover, if patient is a woman, the challenge is even more complicated.
And, if an unusual finding as giant calcification comes out in imaging studies, approach could be even more complex.This difficulty was expressed in this clinical case, emphasizing the importance of the clinic studies but considering all available diagnostic resources.
Physical examination detected her slightly hypertensive, other vital signs were normal.Heart sounds and lung fields were reported unaltered.The abdomen was distended, painful to the deep palpation of the right quadrants, and with clear peritoneal irritation signs (painful McBurney's point, positive VonBlumberg, Rosving and Dunphy signs).

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Axial contrasted computed tomography of the abdomen.(A) Topogram showing calcification in right iliac fossa; (B) axial view, where calcification next to cecum, can be seen; (C) abdomen coronal reconstruction that shows calcification within a tubular structure.
The presence of a giant appendicolith can lead to diagnostic confusions, as in several cases reported in the literature, such as ureteral lithiasis, ovarian pathol- possibility.However not all signs of Rigler's triad were fulfilled (pneumobilia, bowel obstruction, ectopic gallstone) and gallbladder was normal in the tomography.Diagnostic laparoscopy was justified by peritoneal irritation and leuko-A.M. G. Chávez et al.DOI: 10.4236/ss.2017.811051461 Surgical Science