IUD appendicitis during pregnancy.

This case shows that abdominal and pelvic x-ray examinations may not adequately show a misplaced IUD in a gravid woman, and further workup is necessary after delivery if the IUD is not clearly visible on the initial x-ray films. It also shows that chronic inflammation may develop in the area of a misplaced IUD, producing chronic abdominal pain and complications, even after several years have transpired. Finally, patients may still be at risk for complications after an IUD has been removed because of the dense adhesions that develop due to the chronic inflammatory response elicited by the IUD.