Appendicular pathology

Appendicitis remains the most frequent digestive pathology among abdominal surgical emergencies. Diagnosis of this condition is not always straightforward. In the past, diagnosis was based primarily on clinical manifestations and laboratory results, but in around half of all patients an atypical appendicular syndrome was present, making it impossible to confirm the diagnosis. Today, imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT scans are increasingly used to confirm or exclude the diagnosis quickly, and avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. Nonetheless, treatment remains surgical and involves emergency surgery, combined with antibiotic therapy, the duration of which depends on the severity of the inflammation. Anatomopathological analysis of the appendix is crucial, so as not to overlook an associated or underlying diagnosis, notably inflammatory or tumoral pathologies.