Intussusception of the appendix mimicking appendicitis during pregnancy: A case report

BACKGROUND: Intussusception occurs when a segment of bowel and its associated mesentery telescopes into the lumen of the adjacent distal bowel. Appendiceal intussusception is a rare form of ileocoloc intussusception, is rarely diagnosed preoperatively, can mimic appendicitis and has not been previously reported during pregnancy. CASE: A 31-year-old gravid woman at 27 1/7 weeks' gestation presented with symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis and was found at laparoscopy to have complete appendiceal intussusception. CONCLUSION: The list of causes of abdominal pain in pregnancy is very long, but the presence of right-sided abdominal tenderness with guarding and rebound are highly suggestive of acute appendicitis. Regardless of preoperative imaging, because the morbidity, and even mortality, from appendicitis is the morbidity of delay, early surgical intervention is recommended. This is a case of complete appendiceal intussusception mimicking acute appendicitis, but the treatment of both conditions is appendectomy.