A Case of Barium Appendicitis after a Small Bowel Series / 대한소화기내시경학회지

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.