Appendiceal Disease in Women with Endometriosis and Right Lower Quadrant Pain

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and range of appendiceal disease in women with endometriosis and right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain, and to estimate the value of preoperative gastrograffin enema (GGE) as a screen for the disease. DESIGN: Nonrandomized clinical trial (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University-affiliated hospital with a private practice setting. PATIENTS: A subpopulation of 65 women from a group of 337 patients undergoing laparoscopy for symptomatic endometriosis. INTERVENTION: Preoperative GGE was performed whenever possible in these women. At laparoscopy, the appendix was removed if it appeared abnormal or if the preoperative GGE was positive. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 65 women (19%) with symptomatic endometriosis and preoperative RLQ pain, 52 (80%) underwent appendectomy as part of surgery. Of these 52 excised appendixes, 39 (75%) had histologically confirmed pathology including appendicitis or periappendicitis, endometriosis, fibrous obliteration, lymphoid hyperplasia, and carcinoid tumor. Preoperative GGE had sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 83% for appendiceal disease. Its positive predictive value was 95% and negative predictive value was 42%. No complications from laparoscopic appendectomy occurred. CONCLUSION: Disease of the appendix is common in women with endometriosis and RLQ pain. Appendectomy is particularly likely if preoperative GGE is positive.