Answer and Discussion of Quiz Set: A-001

1.    A patient presented with right lower quadrant pain for three days, an acute appendicitis was diagnosed.  Which of the following causes most likely initiated the process?

A.  Carcinoid

B.  Pseudomembranous colitis

C.  Acute obstruction of the lumen of the appendix triggered by fecaliths

D.  Tubular adenoma

E.  Lymphadenopathy

Answer and Discussion: The answer is (C). The most common etiology of acute appendicitis is acute obstruction of the appendicular lumen. The cause of obstruction is variable but obstruction due to fecalith is more common. Carcinoid is a slow growing tumor and is not a common cause of appendicitis. They are, however, sometimes found as incidental findings in appendectomy specimens. Tubular adenoma is also a slow growing tumor and is not a common cause of appendicitis.