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.[1] 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 is from the Greek líthos=stone.[2]
^Alaedeen, Diya I.; Cook, Marc; Chwals, Walter J. (May 2008). "Appendiceal fecalith is associated with early perforation in pediatric patients". Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 43 (5): 889–92. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2007.12.034. PMID18485960.
Mahida, Justin B.; Lodwick, Daniel L.; Nacion, Kristine M.; Sulkowski, Jason P.; Leonhart, Karen L.; Cooper, Jennifer N.; Ambeba, Erica J.; Deans, Katherine J.; Minneci, Peter C. (June 2016). "High failure rate of nonoperative management of acute appendicitis with an appendicolith in children". Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 51 (6): 908–911. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.02.056. PMID27018085.
