A fecalith is a stone made of feces. It is a hardening of feces into lumps of varying size and may occur anywhere in the intestinal tract but is typically found in the colon. It is also called appendicolith when it occurs in the appendix and is sometimes concurrent with appendicitis.[1] They can also obstruct diverticula. It can form secondary to fecal impaction. A fecaloma is a more severe form of fecal impaction, and a hardened fecaloma may be considered a giant fecalith. The term is from the Greek líthos=stone.[2]
| Fecalith | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Fecolith, coprolith, stercolith |
 | |
| A fecalith marked by the arrow which has resulted in acute appendicitis. | |
| Specialty | General surgery |
Diagnosis
edit- CT scan
- Projectional radiography
- Ultrasound
Complications
editA small fecalith is one cause of both appendicitis and acute diverticulitis.
-
Appendicolith as seen on CT -
Appendicolith as seen on plain X ray
See also
edit- Bezoar
- Fecal impaction, including fecaloma
- Coprolith is also used to mean geologically fossilized feces.
References
edit- ^ Al-Nakshabandi, Nizar; Aljefri, Ahmad (2009). "The stranded stone: Relationship between acute appendicitis and appendicolith". Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology. 15 (4): 258–60. doi:10.4103/1319-3767.56106. PMC 2981843. PMID 19794272.
- ^ Alaedeen, Diya I.; Cook, Marc; Chwals, Walter J. (May 2008). "Appendiceal fecalith is associated with early perforation in pediatric patients". Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 43 (5): 889–92. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2007.12.034. PMID 18485960.
External links
edit- Ramdass, Michael; Young, Quillan; Milne, David; Mooteeram, Justin; Barrow, Shaheeba (1 February 2015). "Association between the appendix and the fecalith in adults". Canadian Journal of Surgery. 58 (1): 10–14. doi:10.1503/cjs.002014. PMC 4309758. PMID 25427333.
- Nigar, Sofia; Sunkara, Tagore; Culliford, Andrea; Gaduputi, Vinaya (28 February 2017). "Giant Fecalith Causing Near Intestinal Obstruction and Rectal Ischemia". Case Reports in Gastroenterology. 11 (1): 59–63. doi:10.1159/000455186. PMC 5465791. PMID 28611554.
- Mahida, Justin B.; Lodwick, Daniel L.; Nacion, Kristine M.; Sulkowski, Jason P.; Leonhart, Karen L.; Cooper, Jennifer N.; Ambeba, Erica J.; Deans, Katherine J.; Minneci, Peter C. (June 2016). "High failure rate of nonoperative management of acute appendicitis with an appendicolith in children". Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 51 (6): 908–911. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.02.056. PMID 27018085.