Diagnosis of a vesico-appendicular fistula caused by appendiceal adenocarcinoma using MRI – a case report

Introduction

A vesico-appendicular fistula (VAF) is a rare condition. The precise incidence is unknown and approximately 5 % of vesico-intestinal fistulas are VAFs.

Appendix neoplasms are very rare entities in the digestive system and are found in only 0.9–1.4 % of appendectomy specimens. VAFs usually occur following appendicitis, Crohn’s disease, radiation enteritis and are rarely associated with papillovillous adenoma or adenocarcinoma of the appendix [Alis D, Samanci C, Namdar Y et al. A Very Rare Complication of Acute Appendicitis: Appendicovesical Fistula. Case Rep Urol 2016].

We report a case of a 77-year-old woman with ongoing pain due to recurrent urinary tract infections. The final diagnosis of a VAF was made with MRI and confirmed after an appendectomy, ileocecal resection and a repair of the bladder wall.

Publication History

Article published online:
29 April 2020