Autoamputation of the appendix and survival of the amputated part: a rare case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Autoamputation of the appendix, i.e., complete separation of a part of the appendix without any surgical intervention, has been rarely documented in the literature in recent years. Herein, we report a case where the amputated part of the appendix was viable after autoamputation and reviewed the related literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain and subsequently underwent an emergency laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). Intraoperatively, we found an abnormally short appendix protruding from the cecum and a strip-like tissue attached to the mesoappendix, considered a duplex appendix, was resected. Finally, in conjunction with the histopathology findings and the past medical history, the patient was diagnosed with “Pseudo-duplication of the Appendix”. CONCLUSIONS: Autoamputation of the appendix resulting in preserved tissue viability and absence of necrosis at both ends, can be termed as “Pseudo-duplication of the Appendix”. This condition is very rare in clinical practice and has not been reported in China, to the best of our knowledge. It has been established that the autoamputated appendix can produce chronic inflammation, intestinal fistulae and even cancer, affecting the patient’s quality of life. Accordingly, a clear diagnosis and timely management are essential. In this report, we established a novel classification for “Pseudo-duplication of the Appendix”, hoping that our report will help surgeons better understand this anatomical anomaly of the appendix, to help during the differential diagnosis process and avoid confusion.