Introduction:
A mobile cecum is a frequently encountered congenital anomaly. It is important to recognize this atypical position of the cecum as it may interfere with an accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
Presentation of case:
A 48-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, anorexia, and fever. He had mild lower abdominal discomfort, and rebound tenderness in the suprapubic region, but no guarding or right lower quadrant findings. Laboratory tests identified an elevated white blood cell count (12350 cells/mL) and C-reactive protein level (4.56 mg/dL). In view of the clinical picture suggestive of localized peritonitis, an abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed, which revealed a caudally located cecum, lying in the pelvis, along with evidence of an acutely inflamed appendix. An urgent surgical procedure was performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of acute appendicitis accompanying a mobile cecum.
Discussion:
In the presence of a mobile cecum, the clinical findings of acute appendicitis may be atypical owing to the abnormal position of the appendix. In such cases, there is the possibility of a missed diagnosis. In our case, a CT examination that was performed in view of the clinical diagnosis of mild peritonitis aided in establishing the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and a mobile cecum.
Conclusion:
Anatomical variations of the cecum and the appendix may result in atypical presentation of acute appendicitis. A high index of suspicion, and a CT examination may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis in such cases.