Question

Ms. F, 48 years old, has been admitted to the hospital with severe abdominal pain. Earlier that day she had generalized abdominal pain, followed by a severe pain in the lower right quadrant of her abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. That evening she was feeling slightly improved and the pain seemed to subside somewhat. Later that night, severe, steady abdominal pain developed, with vomiting. A friend took her to the hospital, where examination demonstrated lower right quadrant tenderness and mild abdominal rigidity. Fever and leukocytosis indicated infection. A diagnosis of acute appendicitis, with possible perforation, was indicated, with immediate surgery.

QUESTION: Crohn's disease should be suspected in patients who have persistent pain after surgery, especially if the appendix is histologically normal. It can be difficult in the early stages for physicians to distinguish between appendicitis and Crohn’s disease based on symptoms alone. What are some differences between appendicitis and Crohn’s disease?

Answer 1

Answer:- the difference between appendicitis and Crohn's disease are:-

1. Appendicitis involves inflammation of appendix only, while Crohn's disease involves transmural inflammation of any part of alimentary tract from mouth to an us , typically affects ileum, colon and perianal region.

2. Granuloma is not found in histopathology of specimen in appendicitis, while granuloma is the characteristic feature of Crohn's disease.

3. There is no pre-existing chronic bowel symptoms in appendicitis, while pre-existing chronic bowel symptoms are found in Crohn's disease.

4. In appendicitis, there is change in location of pain and tenderness from epigastrium to the right lower quadrant while in Crohn's disease, there is persistent pain in lower right quadrant of abdomen.