Abstract

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain in children but remains a diagnostic challenge, and insight into the aetiology of the condition is lacking. A case of simultaneous acute appendicitis in monozygotic twin boys is reported here. Familial aggregation in acute appendicitis has been described, but the underlying causes for this are not well understood. The patients reported here were both genetically identical and lived a mostly identical lifestyle. Their simultaneous presentation would be exceedingly rare if explained entirely by chance, suggesting a role for both genetic and environmental influences. Increased knowledge of this occurrence may assist in prompt diagnosis and reporting on the incidence and timing of appendicitis in monozygotic twins could better elucidate the genetic and environmental factors that predispose to this disease.