Xanthogranulomatous appendicitis

Abstract

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is characterized histologically by a collection of lipid-laden macrophages admixed with lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, and often multinucleated giant cells with or without cholesterol clefts, that develops most often in the kidneys and gallbladder. But the involvement of vermiform appendix in the disease process is quite rare with only few cases are reported in literature. Xanthogranulomatous appendicitis is usually identified retrospectively on surgical pathology, that is associated with significant diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas due to its variable presentation.