Background: Perforation of Meckel's diverticulum by a foreign body in children is rarely reported and is usually associated with localized or generalized fibropurulent peritonitis.
Case presentation: The authors encountered such a case in a 4-year-old boy with perforation of Meckel's diverticulum by a piece of peanut presenting as a mesentery abscess. The diverticulum was wide-based and histology showed a transmural perforation at the tip of the diverticulum.
Conclusion: Local inflammation due to irritation of the foreign body and progressive pressure necrosis at the tip of the diverticulum may be the pathogenesis of mesentery abscess. A search of the English literature did not reveal any similar case.
Keywords: Abscess; Intestinal Perforation; Meckel's Diverticulum; Mesentery; Peanuts.