Sonographic Detection of a Torsed Meckel’s Diverticulum Misinterpreted as Acute Appendicitis

Abstract

A 38-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) with acute-onset right lower quadrant abdominal pain following two days of nausea and vomiting. Physical examination revealed right lower quadrant tenderness to palpation, rebound tenderness, and guarding. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the right lower abdomen was performed and interpreted as probable appendicitis. However, upon laparoscopic examination of the abdomen, a benign-appearing appendix was visualized. Further investigation revealed the source of the patient’s pain to be a torsed Meckel’s diverticulum. Although rare, a torsed and inflamed Meckel’s diverticulum can be visualized by POCUS in the ED without the need for further imaging or delay.

Ureteral Stone Mimics Appendicitis: A Point-of-care Ultrasound Case Report

“…The RLQ ultrasound had identified the cause, which was misinterpreted as an inflamed appendix. 11 There is value in discussing systematic syndromic ultrasound focused on a complaint-based evaluation rather than an organ-based approach. This necessitates evaluating multiple anatomic structures in the region of concern to systematically rule in or out pathological findings.…”