Fecalith

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 concomitant with appendicitis. They can also obstruct diverticula. It can possibly form secondary to fecal impaction. A fecaloma is a more severe form of fecal impaction, and a hardened fecaloma may be considered to be a giant fecalith. The term is from Greek líthos=stone.

Diagnosis

• CT Scan
• Projectional radiography
• Ultrasound

Complications

A 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

• Bezoar
• Fecal impaction, including fecaloma
• Coprolith is also used to mean geologically fossilized feces.