76 T_h e vermiform appendix

ANATOMY The vermiform appendix is present only in humans, certain anthropoid apes and the wombat....

Aetiology There is no unifying hypothesis regarding the aetiology of acute appendicitis. Decrease...

Appendicitis in pregnancy Appendicitis appears to be less common in pregnant than in non-pregnant...

Differential diagnosis Although acute appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergenc...

Epithelial tumours of the appendix Epithelial neoplasms are found in 0.6% of appendicectomy spec...

FURTHER READING Ansari N, Chandrakumaran K, Dayal S et al . Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermi...

Goblet cell carcinoma Goblet cell carcinomas (GCCs) of the appendix are a rare vari ant, account...

Gross anatomy The position of the base of the appendix is constant, being found at the confluenc...

High-grade and invasive neoplasms Appendiceal mucinous tumours displaying high-grade dysplasia ar...

INTRODUCTION The importance of the vermiform appendix in surgery arises primarily from its prope...

Investigation The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is essentially clinical; however, a decision t...

Investigations The investigation of a patient with PMP should include a high-resolution CT scan ...

Learning objectives To understand: The aetiology and surgical anatomy of acute appendicitis • The...

Low-grade neoplasms Most epithelial tumours of the appendix are classified as LAMNs. These lesion...

Management of an incidental or

Microscopic anatomy The appendix varies considerably in length and circumference. The average len...

NEOPLASMS OF THE APPENDIX AND PSEUDOMYXOMA PERITONEI Tumours of the appendix may occur in up to ...

Neuroendocrine tumours of the appendix NETs of the appendix are slightly more common in females a...

Pathology Obstruction of the appendiceal lumen seems to be essential for appendiceal perforatio...

Postoperative complications Postoperative complications following appendicectomy are relatively u...

Pseudomyxoma peritonei PMP is a rare condition typified by progressive peritoneal tumour deposits,...

Treatment Non-operative management There are two scenarios in which patients with acute appendi c...

Unexpected appendix tumour encountered at surgery An inspection of the abdominal cavity should b...

unexpected tumour of the appendix Incidental neoplasm in appendicectomy specimen In a patient wit...