Atypical Clinical Presentation: Retrocecal Appendix

Nonperforated appendicitis.

16 year old girl with focal pain, right lower quadrant tenderness, and fever for two days. A CT examination was obtained to evaluate for appendicitis, shown below.

An axial CT image in the upper pelvis shows edema of the cecal wall which, along with barium in the cecum (C), contributes to the "arrowhead sign" of appendicitis. A dilated fluid filled appendix (large arrow) is seen with adjacent stranding of retroperitoneal fat (arrowheads). The appendix follows a retrocecal course (small arrows).
At surgery a nonperforated inflamed appendix was removed.

Return to Atypical Clinical Presentation (A)