Appendiceal Endometriosis Mimicking Acute Appendicitis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32007/jfacmedbaghdad3265

Keywords:

Appendix, Case report, Chronic pelvic pain, Endometriosis, Histopathology, Laparoscopy

Abstract

Background: While endometriosis has a high prevalence among women during their reproductive years, appendiceal endometriosis is an uncommon clinical condition that affects women, and it is mostly presented as acute appendicitis, and or similar to several other gynecological disorders.
Case Presentation: A thirty-four years old female presented with symptoms of a one-day of acute right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain as well as a chronic history of abdominal pain and chronic recurrent pelvic pain. The physical and clinical assessment referred for laboratory, the findings suggested acute appendicitis, then admitted to Baghdad teaching hospital for  Laparoscopic appendectomy, and the specimen was sent for histopathological examination, where it revealed endometrial glands and stroma embedded in the muscularis propria of the appendix.
Conclusion: Although rare, appendiceal endometriosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of RLQ pain in reproductive-age women. This case indicates the necessity of routine histopathological examination of all appendectomy specimens to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate follow-up.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Parasar P, Ozcan P, Terry KL. Endometriosis: epidemiology, diagnosis and clinical management. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep. 2017;6:34-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-017-0187-1

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-017-0187-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-017-0187-1

2. Giudice LC, Kao LC. Endometriosis. TL-364. Lancet. 2004;364(9447):1789-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17403-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17403-5

3. Johnson NP, Hummelshoj L, Adamson GD, et al. World endometriosis Society consensus on the classification of endometriosis. Hum Reprod. 2017;32(2):315-24. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew293

4. Gustofson RL, Kim N, Liu S, et al. Endometriosis and the appendix: a case series and comprehensive review of the literature. Fertil Steril. 2006;86(2):298-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.12.0765 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.12.076

5. Yaghi M, Nassar H, Zadeh C, et al. Incidental appendiceal mass as the only manifestation of endometriosis. BMJ Case Rep. 2021;14(2):e239090. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-239090 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-239090

6. Allahqoli L, Mazidimoradi A, Momenimovahed Z, et al. Appendiceal Endometriosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Diagnostics. 2023; 13(11):1827. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13111827 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13111827

7. Klein S, Tourangeau-Young R, Biglione A. Appendiceal Endometriosis Presenting as Chronic Appendicitis: A Case Report. Cureus. 2023;15(4):e37825. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37825 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37825

8. Charatsi D, Koukoura O, Ntavela IG, et al. Gastrointestinal and urinary tract endometriosis: a review on the commonest locations of extra-pelvic endometriosis. Adv Med. 2018; 2018(1):3461209. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3461209 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3461209

9. Laskou S, Papavramidis TS, Cheva A, et al. Acute appendicitis caused by endometriosis: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2011 Apr 11;5(1):144. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-144

10. Gupta R, Singh AK, Farhat W, et al. Appendicular endometriosis: A case report and review of literature. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2019;64:94-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2019.07.046. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2019.07.046

11. Pereira BM, Mendes CA, Ruano RM, et al. Acute appendicitis may no longer be a predominant disease of the young population. Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther. 2019;51(4):283-8. https://doi.org/10.5114/ait.2019.87332. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ait.2019.87332

12. Buckius MT, McGrath B, Monk J, et al. Changing epidemiology of acute appendicitis in the United States: Study period 1993-2008. J. Surg. Res. 2012;175 (2): 185-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2011.07.017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2011.07.017

13. Saleem A, Navarro P, Munson JL, et al. Endometriosis of the appendix: Report of three cases, Int. J. Surg. Case Rep. 2011;2(2):16-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2010.11.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2010.11.001

14. Jansen RP, Russell P. Nonpigmented endometriosis: clinical, laparoscopic, and pathologic definition. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1986; 155:1154-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(86)90136-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(86)90136-5

15. Jocko JA, Shenassa H, Singh SS. The role of appendectomy in gynaecologic surgery: A Canadian retrospective case series. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2013; 35:44-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1701-2163(15)31047-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1701-2163(15)31047-1

16. Lyons TL, Winer WK, Woo A. Appendectomy in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for pelvic pain. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc. 2001; 8(4):542-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1074-3804(05)60618-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1074-3804(05)60618-4

17. Yetkin G, Uludag M, Citgez B, et al. Endometriosis of the appendix presenting as acute appendicitis. BMJ Case Rep. 2009;2009:bcr0420091820. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr.04.2009.1820 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr.04.2009.1820

18. Brant WE, Helms CA. Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health; 2012. p. 792. Available from: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL25140172M/Fundamentals_of_diagnostic_radiology?utm_source

19.Lamceva J, Uljanovs R, Strumfa I. The Main Theories on the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 21;24(5):4254. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054254

Appendiceal;

Downloads

Published

01.07.2026

How to Cite

1.
Turkey FA, Ibraheem NH, Abdul Jabbar ST, Al-Mukhtar ZK. Appendiceal Endometriosis Mimicking Acute Appendicitis: A Case Report and Review of Literature. J Fac Med Baghdad [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1 [cited 2026 Jul. 3];68(2):185-8. Available from: https://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/3265

Similar Articles

1-10 of 499

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.