Unusual findings in appendectomy specimens: Evaluation of 2458 cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is the most common acute surgical condition of the abdomen. Obstruction of the lumen is the dominant factor for acute appendicitis. Although fecaliths are the usual cause of obstruction, some unusual factors could be the reason.
AIM: Our aim was to document the unusual findings in appendectomy specimens.
METHODS AND MATERIAL: The hospital records of 2458 patients (834 F) who were diagnosed as acute appendicitis and underwent open appendicectomy during last six years were retrospective according to age, sex, histopathological diagnosis, coexisting pathologies and unusual findings on histology.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES: All data were stored using SPSS 9.05 for Windows. Frequency and distrubution of data were analysed.
RESULTS: Unusual findings were determined in 19 (0.7%) cases by histology. Parasites were found in six (0.3%) (Enterobius Vermicularis, Balantidum Coli, Schistosoma Haematobium), mucocele in 5 (0.2%), carcinoid tumour in three (0.1%), B cell malignant lymphoma in one (0.05%), leiomyoma in one (0.05%), primary appendiceal adenocarcinoma in one (0.05%), acute appendicitis with dysplastic changes in one (0.05%) and inflammatory bowel polyp was reported in remaining one case (0.05%).
CONCLUSION: Although unusual or coexisting pathologies can be seen rarely during appendectomy, this should be kept in mind and meticulous exploration and evaluation should be performed in each cases.

Keywords
Histology, unusual findings, acute appendicitis, appendicectomy, surgery