{{Short description|Bodily stone made of feces}} {{Infobox medical condition (new) | name = Fecalith | image = X-ray showing fecalith which has caused appendicitis.jpg | caption = A fecalith marked by the arrow which has resulted in acute appendicitis. | pronounce = | field = General surgery | synonyms = Fecolith, coprolith, stercolith | symptoms = | complications = | onset = | duration = | types = | causes = | risks = | diagnosis = | differential = | prevention = | treatment = | medication = | prognosis = | frequency = | deaths = }}
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.<ref name=pmid19794272>{{cite journal |last1=Al-Nakshabandi |first1=Nizar |last2=Aljefri |first2=Ahmad |title=The stranded stone: Relationship between acute appendicitis and appendicolith |journal=Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology |date=2009 |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=258–60 |pmid=19794272 |pmc=2981843 |doi=10.4103/1319-3767.56106 |doi-access=free }}</ref> 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 combines the Latin word faex (sediment) with the Greek word líthos (stone).<ref name=pmid18485960>{{cite journal |last1=Alaedeen |first1=Diya I. |last2=Cook |first2=Marc |last3=Chwals |first3=Walter J. |title=Appendiceal fecalith is associated with early perforation in pediatric patients |journal=Journal of Pediatric Surgery |date=May 2008 |volume=43 |issue=5 |pages=889–92 |pmid=18485960 |doi=10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2007.12.034}}</ref>
== Diagnosis ==
* CT scan * Projectional radiography * Ultrasound
== Complications ==
A small fecalith is one cause of both appendicitis and acute diverticulitis.
<gallery> File:AppendicolithPlainCT.png|Appendicolith as seen on CT File:AppendicolithPlainXray.png|Appendicolith as seen on plain X ray </gallery>
== See also ==
* Bezoar * Fecal impaction, including fecaloma * ''Coprolith'' is also used to mean geologically fossilized feces.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{cite journal |last1=Ramdass |first1=Michael |last2=Young |first2=Quillan |last3=Milne |first3=David |last4=Mooteeram |first4=Justin |last5=Barrow |first5=Shaheeba |title=Association between the appendix and the fecalith in adults |journal=Canadian Journal of Surgery |date=1 February 2015 |volume=58 |issue=1 |pages=10–14 |doi=10.1503/cjs.002014 |pmid=25427333 |pmc=4309758 }} *{{cite journal |last1=Nigar |first1=Sofia |last2=Sunkara |first2=Tagore |last3=Culliford |first3=Andrea |last4=Gaduputi |first4=Vinaya |title=Giant Fecalith Causing Near Intestinal Obstruction and Rectal Ischemia |journal=Case Reports in Gastroenterology |date=28 February 2017 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=59–63 |doi=10.1159/000455186 |pmid=28611554 |pmc=5465791 }} *{{cite journal |last1=Mahida |first1=Justin B. |last2=Lodwick |first2=Daniel L. |last3=Nacion |first3=Kristine M. |last4=Sulkowski |first4=Jason P. |last5=Leonhart |first5=Karen L. |last6=Cooper |first6=Jennifer N. |last7=Ambeba |first7=Erica J. |last8=Deans |first8=Katherine J. |last9=Minneci |first9=Peter C. |title=High failure rate of nonoperative management of acute appendicitis with an appendicolith in children |journal=Journal of Pediatric Surgery |date=June 2016 |volume=51 |issue=6 |pages=908–911 |doi=10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.02.056 |pmid=27018085 }}
{{Digestive system diseases}} {{Medical resources | DiseasesDB = | ICD10 = {{ICD10|K|38|1|k|35}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|560.39}} | ICDO = | OMIM = | MedlinePlus = | eMedicineSubj = | eMedicineTopic = | MeshID = }} {{Authority control}}
Category:Diseases of appendix Category:Feces