ROLE OF HISTOPATHOLOGY AFTER EMERGENCY APPENDECTOMY

Background: To determine the frequency of inflammed appendices and other pathologies by histopahtological examination of appendectomy specimens. Material & Methods: All patients presenting with pain right iliac fossa, diagnosed as acute appendicitis on history and clinical examination were selected. Patient age, sex, operative findings and histopathology reports were noted. Histopathology reports were analysed according to diagnosis. Results: Out of 114 patients who were diagnosed as an acute appendicitis and underwent appendectomy, 85% reports revealed acute inflammation, 8.7% were normal while 1.7% had Meckel’s diverticulitis, 2.6% showed tuberculosis, one each case was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma and carcinoid. Lymphoid hyperplasia was predominant finding in acute appendicitis. Conclusion: Beside acute inflammation, histopathlogical examination of appendicitis specimens yield important clinical information like benign and malignant pathologies. All specimens of appendectomy should be sent for histopathological examination, so as not to miss any unusual or coexisting pathology.