Case report describes duplicated appendix leading to appendicitis in a patient, highlighting CT's diagnostic role.
Duplication of the appendix is a rare congenital malformation, classified into various types depending on its location and relation to the cecum. There are no established demographic patterns associated with appendiceal duplication. While the exact cause and mechanism are not entirely understood, duplication of the appendix is thought to arise between weeks six and eight of gestation due to anomalies during the embryological process of midgut rotation. We present an unusual case of a 26-year-old male patient who presented to the ED with a 12-hour history of nausea, vomiting, and right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain. The physical examination revealed McBurney's point tenderness, guarding, and rigidity. Laboratory findings showed leukocytosis with a WBC of 14,000/μL (reference range: 4,000-11,000/μL). Following a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), a diagnosis of a duplicated appendix, one of them with acute appendicitis and appendicolith, was established. This case highlights the importance of considering appendiceal duplication in patients with appendicitis-like symptoms and the utility of CT in diagnosis.
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Cardona et al. (2025) studied this question.
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