Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.
2011 Jul;43(1):38-41.
A Case of Barium Appendicitis after a Small Bowel Series
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. 20040544@eulji.ac.kr
Abstract
- Barium appendicitis is a rare complication that occurs due to barium retention in the appendix after a barium study. It is believed that retained barium in the appendix forms a barium-coated fecalith and causes barium appendicitis. A 19-year-old man visited the hospital due to melena. He underwent an endoscopy and a colonoscopy but no bleeding focus was discovered. Next, a small bowel series was performed to confirm the absence of small bowel bleeding. Two weeks later, he felt right lower quadrant pain in his abdomen and developed a fever. A blood test revealed an elevated white blood cell count. A plain abdominal radiograph indicated retained barium in the appendix. A computed tomography scan revealed a dilated barium filled appendix. Thus, the pain was thought to caused by barium retention in the appendix that precipitated acute appendicitis. He underwent an appendectomy and healed well without complications.
