Right lower quadrant pain in females. Is it appendicitis or gynecological?

Authors

• Eric A. Archibong, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Abha Maternity Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Mamdoh Eskandar, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, King Khalid University, College of Medicine, PO Box 641, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (7) 2284635. Fax. +966 (7) 2257570. E-mail: mamdoheskandar{at}hotmail.com
• Adekunle A. Sobande, Departments of Obstetric and Gynecology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, PO Box 641, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Oluwole G. Ajao, General Surgery, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, PO Box 641, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a gynecological consultation is needed for patients who are labeled to have acute appendicitis. METHODS: A retrospective study carried out in Assir Central Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Fifteen female patients who were clinically diagnosed and operated upon for acute appendicitis were discovered intra-operatively to have unrelated gynecological lesions, are presented. RESULTS: Histopathological reports on the removed appendices revealed 80% "normal" and 20% "mildly inflamed". Seven (46.7%) of the patients had right ovarian cysts (one of them, bilateral); 4 (26.7%), corpus luteum cysts, and 4 had bilateral salpingitis, bilateral pyosalpinx, right ovarian cyst with bilateral salpingitis and ruptured right tubal pregnancy each. The majority (60%) of the women were in the 20-30-year-age bracket. CONCLUSION: The need for gynecological review of female patients of childbearing age presenting with lower abdominal pain is stressed. Ultrasonography is an important adjunct in improving diagnostic accuracy in such cases.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

30

Last Page

33

Recommended Citation

Archibong, Eric A.; Eskandar, Mamdoh; Sobande, Adekunle A.; and Ajao, Oluwole G. (2002) "Right lower quadrant pain in females. Is it appendicitis or gynecological?," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 23: Iss. 1, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.1585