Limited Polyarteritis Nodosa Presenting as Acute Appendicitis / 대한류마티스학회지

ABSTRACT

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium-sized muscular arteries that typically involve multiple organs, including peripheral nerve, skin, joint, muscle, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, and heart. In addition to systemic involvement of the classical PAN, localized diseases of the gallbladder, uterus, testis, and skin have been reported. In particular, a limited involvement of the appendix is an unusual manifestation of PAN and usually runs a favorable prognosis when compared with the classical PAN. We described a 13-year-old woman with a limited form of PAN presenting as acute appendicitis without other systemic manifestations. She recovered after exploratory laparotomy and appendectomy without administration of steroid or immunosuppressant.