Diamonds in the appendix

Abstract

Background An uncommon cause of appendicitis is the entrapment of ingested foreign objects in the appendix. Although a rare event, it could remain asymptomatic for a prolonged time. The presence of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract has a high potential for complications, in particular if sharp or large enough in size to cause obstruction. However, most often an ingested foreign object would be eliminated in the stool. Rarely, it may reside in the appendix depending on various factors such as the nature of the ingested body and the appendiceal peristaltic movements. Case presentation We report a case of abdominal pain due to a diamond earring trapped in the appendix for 2 years. A plain X-ray of the abdomen confirmed the diagnosis which prompted a laparoscopic appendectomy resulting in resolution of symptoms. Conclusion The initial presentation of an ingested foreign object can be similar to signs of symptoms of acute appendicitis and the patient must be monitored for several days to follow the trajectory of the foreign body in order to prevent complications. Even though the incidence is more common among the pediatric population, vigilance among adults should also be undertaken with a history of ingesting a foreign object, as this case demonstrates the importance of keeping a high index of suspicion when encountering such cases.