# Preoperative Diagnosis of Meckel’s Diverticulitis Mimicking Appendicitis in a Young Adult: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A young adult with symptoms of appendicitis was diagnosed with Meckel’s diverticulitis using CT before surgery, emphasizing the importance of considering this rare condition.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the diagnostic value of CT in distinguishing Meckel’s diverticulitis from appendicitis in adults.

## Key findings

- Preoperative CT accurately diagnosed Meckel’s diverticulitis in a patient initially suspected of having appendicitis.
- The patient underwent successful surgical resection and recovered without complications.

## Abstract

Meckel’s diverticulitis is a rare but important differential in patients presenting with right iliac fossa pain and is often initially mistaken for acute appendicitis. We report a case of a 22-year-old male patient who presented with symptoms consistent with appendicitis but was found on preoperative computed tomography (CT) to have Meckel’s diverticulitis. He subsequently underwent surgical resection and made an uneventful recovery. This case highlights the diagnostic utility of CT in acute abdomen and the importance of considering Meckel’s diverticulitis within the differential diagnosis of right iliac fossa pain in adult patients.