0:01

Acute appendicitis is often caused

0:02

by fecaliths or lymphoid hyperplasia.

0:06

So in this particular variant of acute

0:08

appendicitis, as we follow the cecum

0:10

down to the terminal ileum, there's not as

0:12

much of a fatty valve right here. We have

0:15

the same findings of acute appendicitis.

0:17

We have a thickened, dilated appendix, hyper-

0:19

enhancing wall, inflammation surrounding it.

0:22

But in this case, you see this hyperdense

0:24

structure at the base of the appendix, right at

0:26

the orifice where it meets the cecum here.

0:29

In this case, it's an appendicolith

0:31

that's causing the appendicitis.

0:33

And what this is, it's a calcium deposit

0:35

that forms around a smaller fecalith,

0:38

and that's what you're seeing here.

0:39

So you don't see the fecalith

0:40

itself; you're seeing the calcification.

0:41

And these don't always cause acute appendicitis.

0:45

You can see this in a normal appendix, and

0:46

it can be anywhere throughout its length, but

0:49

they are often a cause of acute appendicitis.

0:51

It is always worthwhile to look

0:53

for that to see if it's present.