A Case of Perforation of the Appendix Caused by a Fish Bone

Abstract

A 68-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with right lower abdominal pain, so she was admitted to our department. The laboratory data showed a high level of CRP (43.09mg/dL). An abdominal CT scan showed that a linear high density object was sticking out of the appendix, so we diagnosed that she had perforation of the appendix caused by a fish bone. We performed an appendectomy and drainage. In Japan a fish bone can often be found as a foreign body in the appendix, and it can frequently cause perforation. It is difficult to preoperatively diagnose perforation of the appendix by a fish bone. Accurate preoperative diagnosis of this kind of case requires identification of a linear high density object and to keep in mind perforation of the appendix caused by a fish bone. We report herein on a case of perforation of the appendix caused by a fish bone with the addition of a review of the relevant literature.