Clinicopathologic Study of Appendix Specimens- A Two Year Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center

Introduction: Acute appendicitis is the most common abdominal emergency and has remained an on going diagnostic challenge. Histopathologic studies are the gold standard for final diagnosis. Aim: To study the histopathological features of appendix and utility of Ultrasonography (USG) in diagnosis of appendicitis. Materials and Methods: A two-year retrospective study from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017 of 472 appendectomy cases. Demography, clinical findings, radiologic and laboratory studies, histopathology findings were analysed. Results: Among the 472 appendectomy cases 283 (59.95%) were males and 189 (40.04%) were female patients. Most of the patients presented in the 3rd decade. Mean age was 29.25± 15.09 years (median age-26). Most common histopathological finding was Acute Appendicitis with Perforation comprising of 187 cases (39.61%) followed by acute appendicitis comprising of 117 cases (24.78%). Unusual findings were tubercular appendicitis. Most common neoplasm was Low Grade Mucinous Neoplasm (LAMN) four cases (0.84%) followed by carcinoid three (0.63%) and goblet cell carcinoid one (0.21%). USG and histopathologic correlation was significant only when USG was combined with clinical and laboratory findings. Conclusion: Histopathological examination of appendix is necessary for confirmation of type of inflammation. In addition vigilant grossing should be done to detect parasitic infestations, appendicolith, diverticuli, tubercular appendicitis and neoplasms of appendix. USG should be correlated with clinical and laboratory findings to diagnose appendicitis.