An intimate relationship lies between the appendix and the colon: a case report of colitis cystica profunda post-laparoscopic appendectomy

Abstract

Cystica profunda is a rare benign finding of mucous-filled cysts in the submucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, more commonly found in the rectum and colon. Risk factors include rectal prolapse, inflammatory bowel diseases, pelvic radiation and being post-appendectomy. We present a case of a female patient presenting with rectorrhagia, found to have sigmoidal colitis cystica profunda (CCP) six months post-appendectomy. This case is one of the few in medical literature to highlight the direct association between laparoscopic appendectomy and CCP, previously discussed in the literature as a complication post-appendectomy in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.