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PubMed1979

Gas in the appendix: a sometimes significant but nonspecific diagnostic sign.

The gas-filled appendix is an uncommon roentgenographic sign that has been considered to be virtually diagnostic of acute appendicitis when the appendix is positioned caudad to the cecum in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Three patients had gas in the appendix in the absence of acute appendicitis. This diagnostic sign is therefore not specific for appendicitis. Regardless of its location, the appendix may contain gas despite the absence of intrinsic disease.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1987

Experimental model for the study of the human appendix.

A simple and reproducible model for the experimental study of the normally functioning human appendix is described. The appendix removed from a human is transplanted into a nude mouse and is kept vital for at least 4 hours. This model is an improvement on previous models. It corresponds well with the working of the normal human appendix as regards tissue type and characteristics. Results are easily quantified and a paired control is possible in the experimental animal. This simplifies the experimental design and statistical calculations. The model can be used to gain additional information about the pathophysiology of the human appendix and the possible influence of drugs on this organ.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

A case of cecocolic intussusception with complete invagination and intussusception of the appendix with villous adenoma.

Villous adenoma of the appendix is a rare neoplasm and intussusception of the appendix is a rare pathologic condition. A very rare case seen in a 35-year-old male with pain in the right lateral abdomen is reported. In this patient, the appendix along with the villous adenoma intussuscepted and invaginated into the cecal lumen, and presented as cecocolic intussusception. A polypoid lesion was diagnosed in the cecum by fiberoptic colonoscopy. Unlike polypoid lesions at other sites in the large intestine, polypoid lesions of the cecum may accompany intussusception and invagination of the appendix. Consequently, caution is required in performing endoscopic polypectomy in cases of polypoid lesions of the cecum.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1979

Primary Crohn's disease of the appendix: report of 14 cases and review of the literature.

Fourteen patients with primary Crohn's disease of the appendix have been seen in a 12 year period. These patients represent 12.8% of the total number undergoing surgical resection because of Crohn's disease. Twenty-three cases of appendiceal Crohn's disease have been previously reported in the literature. A correct preoperative diagnosis is rarely made; the usual diagnosis is that of acute appendicitis or appendiceal abscess. The removed appendix in twelve of our 14 cases had marked thickening of the wall with transmural fibrosis and often with granulomatous inflammation. The enlarged appendix had an external appearance similar to that of ileal Crohn's disease, and we consider a correct surgical diagnosis might be possible with better awareness of its existence. The diagnosis might be suspected earlier when the clinical course of apparent appendicitis is protracted or atypical. Contrary to the previous estimation of high recurrence rate, this series and the cumulative evidence in the literature show a relatively low rate at 14%. The feared fistula formation following the removal of the appendix has not been seen in either our series or the literature. These patients, however, merit long-term follow-up.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computed tomography of the abnormal appendix.

This report describes the CT features of 29 abnormal appendices visualized during abdominal CT examinations. There were 22 cases of acute appendicitis, five mucoceles, and two mucinous adenocarcinomas of the appendix. The inflammed appendix appeared either as a fluid-filled slightly distended structure or as a collapsed small tubular structure. It was visualized on either cross or longitudinal sections and showed slight circumferential wall thickening. Periappendiceal inflammation was detected in 19 cases and intraluminal appendicoliths in six cases. Mucocele appeared as a larger fluid-filled round, oval, or tubular structure having a thin, sharp wall, low density contents, and no periappendiceal inflammation. Mucinous carcinoma appeared either as a single or as multiloculated, irregular shaped cystic lesion with solid elements. Infiltration of cecum and terminal ileum was seen in one case. In five cases the abnormal appendix was not recognized initially and was identified only after repeat 5 X 5 mm sections were obtained. During CT examination, demonstration of an abnormal appendix establishes the source of the abdominal pathology and helps greatly in the differential diagnosis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1992

Benign epithelial neoplasms of the appendix: classification and clinical associations.

The nomenclature of non-carcinoid epithelial proliferations of the appendix is confused and many of the terms used have no histogenetic basis. A classification based on the well-established diagnostic categories of colonic epithelial polyps has been proposed recently. We have applied this classification to 42 benign epithelial lesions of the appendix in order to determine its suitability for routine diagnostic use, and in order to determine the prognosis of patients with these lesions. All lesions could be classified as either hyperplastic, adenomatous, mixed hyperplastic/adenomatous or dilated appendices. Six cases were associated with a synchronous carcinoma of the colon with all types of appendiceal histology being represented. Follow-up of the remainder of the patients revealed two subsequent colonic carcinomas, at 3 and 6 years post-appendicectomy respectively. In both of these patients, the appendix had shown adenomatous epithelium. We suggest that adenomas of the appendix may have a similar prognostic significance to adenomas elsewhere in the large bowel.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Distribution of immunoglobulin producing cells is different in normal human appendix and colon mucosa.

The densities of IgG-, IgA-, IgM- and IgD-producing immunocytes were determined by paired immunofluorescence staining and morphometric analysis in the lamina propria of normal appendix specimens. Normal colon specimens were used as reference material, mostly paired from individual subjects. The density (median of cells/mm2 lamina propria area) of IgA immunocytes tended to be slightly higher in the appendix than in the colon (1259 vs 962) and the same held true for IgM cells (71 vs 55). Conversely, the overall density of IgG immunocytes was much higher in the appendix than in the colon (95 vs 38). A striking feature was the fact that almost 50% of all immunocytes were of the IgG isotype adjacent to lymphoid follicles. It seemed justified to conclude, therefore, that the abundance of such follicles explains the overall enrichment of IgG-producing cells in normal appendix mucosa. These immunocytes most likely represent follicle derived B cells that have reached terminal maturation locally, whereas precursors generated from less mature memory clones probably emigrate and home ubiquitously to distant sites of the gut lamina propria where they develop into IgA-producing immunocytes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Human appendix B cells naturally express receptors for and respond to interleukin 6 with selective IgA1 and IgA2 synthesis.

Past studies have shown that freshly isolated human B cells from peripheral blood and tonsils do not express IL-6 receptors (IL-6R); however, mitogen or antigen activation of these B cells induces IL-6R and responsiveness to IL-6. In this study, we have shown that a high proportion of B cells enzymatically dissociated from human appendix, a gut-associated lymphoreticular tissue (GALT), expresses the IL-6R, and that recombinant human IL-6 induces significant increases in the number of Ig-producing cells. The recombinant human IL-6-induced increase in Ig-producing cells is restricted to the IgA isotype. Further, IgA2 is the major subclass; however, significant numbers of IgA1 producing cells are also seen. In contrast, human tonsillar and peripheral blood B cells express low levels of IL-6R, and exogenous IL-6 does not increase numbers of Ig-producing cells. When PBMC or tonsillar cells are stimulated with PWM, the former display an equal distribution of IgA1 and IgA2 secreting cells, while tonsillar B cells are mainly of the IgA1 subclass. The distribution of surface Ig-positive (sIg+) B cells in the appendix B cell population is sIgA+ greater than sIgG+ greater than sIgM+, and the sIgA+ B cells express higher levels of IL-6R when compared with sIgG+ or sIgM+ B cells. These studies show that human appendix contains B cell subsets that constitutively express IL-6R, and that a high proportion of these cells are committed to the IgA isotype. Furthermore, higher numbers of IL-6 responsive IgA2 B cells are present in the human appendix as compared to tonsils or PBMC.

Appendix↗

PubMed1986

Diverticulosis of the vermiform appendix.

A case of appendicitis that was associated with a rare congenital diverticulum of the appendix is presented, along with the results of a retrospective study of diverticulosis of the appendix over a 10-year period. The incidence of the condition in this series (0.65%) is similar to other published series; however, two cases involved rare congenital diverticula--only 43 of such cases have been previously recorded in the medical literature world-wide. The average age of patients who present with acute appendicitis with acquired diverticula (37.8 years) is greater than that of patients without the condition. The perforation rate of an inflamed appendix when diverticula were present (27%) was higher than when no diverticula existed (6.6%). Because of the earlier and higher perforation rate, it is proposed that appendicectomy be performed if an appendix with diverticula is found during the course of a laparotomy for some other condition.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Mucoceles of the appendix. Their relationship to hyperplastic polyps, mucinous cystadenomas, and cystadenocarcinomas.

Sixty-four cases of hyperplastic polyp, mucinous cystadenoma, and cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix were studied in relation to the development of mucocele and "pseudomyxoma peritonei." Thirty-three cases were examples of hyperplastic polyps. In 11, the appendix was transformed into a mucocele; eight were associated with mucinous cystadenoma and one with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The hyperplastic polyp alone was the cause of mucocele formation in two. Thirty-five cases represented examples of mucinous cystadenoma; 32 resulted in mucocele formation. Rupture with localized pseudomyxoma peritonei was found in six; generalized pseudomyxoma peritonei was encountered only once. In four of the five cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, the appendix was grossly transformed into mucoceles. The histological features of mucinous cystadenoma are identical to villous adenoma of the large bowel and probably represent its counterpart within the appendix.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Analysis of cefepime tissue penetration into human appendix.

Cefepime is a new extended-spectrum cephalosporin with gram-positive and gram-negative coverage including Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We evaluated the drug's plasma, peritoneal fluid, and appendix tissue concentrations in patients with a postoperative diagnosis of perforated or gangrenous appendicitis. Patients 18 years of age or older were randomly assigned to receive either cefepime 2 g every 12 hours plus metronidazole 500 mg every 6 hours intravenously, or gentamicin 1.5 mg/kg plus clindamycin 900 mg every 8 hours intravenously. During surgery, appendix tissue, plasma, and peritoneal fluid samples were obtained, and frozen at -70 degrees C for high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis. Thirty-five patients with perforated (26) or gangrenous (9) appendicitis had concentrations acceptable for analysis. The mean time between the administration of cefepime and the time of sampling (referred to as delta time) was 5.99 +/- 3.75 hours (mean +/- SD). The values for plasma (n = 34), tissue (n = 33), and peritoneal fluid (n = 25) concentrations were 16.27 +/- 21.87 micrograms/ml, 4.84 +/- 6.15 micrograms/g, and 14.4 +/- 22.84 micrograms/ml, respectively. The appendix tissue:plasma ratio was 0.66 +/- 0.52 and the peritoneal fluid:plasma ratio was 0.66 +/- 0.51. Spearman rank correlations indicated statistically significant correlations between plasma concentration (r = -0.889; p less than 0.0001), peritoneal fluid concentration (r = -0.783; p = 0.0002), and appendix tissue concentration (r = -0.704; p = 0.0016) versus delta time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

[Urinary diversion using an appendix: a report of two cases].

We report two cases of urinary diversion through an appendix. Case 1. An 81-year-old man was hospitalized with oliguria. The patient had a past history of left nephro-ureterectomy for left ureteral tumor. Ultrasound showed right hydronephrosis due to recurrence in the bladder and right ureter. A total cystectomy and partial ureterectomy were carried out, and an appendix conduit was constructed because the ureter was not sufficiently long for ureterocutaneostomy. Case 2. A 68-year-old woman with diabetic neurogenic bladder, hypothyroidism, and chronic obstructive lung disease was hospitalized with the complaint of difficulty in self-catheterization. Continent vesicostomy was carried out according to the method of Mitrofanoff using the appendix. Both patients were tubeless and without postoperative complications before discharge. Appendix conduit and Mitrofanoff operation, which can be performed by a simple surgical procedure, are considered to be applicable to poor risk cases.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Bacteriology of the appendix and the ileum in health and in appendicitis.

The bacteriology of the ileum and the appendix in appendicitis patients with or without perforation and compared with patients who had "incidental appendectomy" was studied. Of 42 appendicitis patients, 24 (57%) of them had anaerobic bacteria in the appendix compared with two of eight (25%) with normal appendix. Anaerobes were found in the ileal aspirates of 20 of 42 (47.6%) appendicitis patients and two of eight (25%) in normal persons. This suggests that anaerobic bacteria increasingly colonize the appendix and the ileum in cases of appendicitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha and indomethacin on the musculature of the human appendix].

In their research, the authors have tried to determine possible differences in effects of prostaglandin F2 alpha on longitudinal musculature tonus in normal and inflamed human appendix and the extent to which it is possible to react on prostaglandin effect by indomethacin. The obtained results indicate that PGF2 alpha increases tonus in human appendix musculature; however, the change is more pronounced in a normal appendix musculature. Even more, indomethacin prevents spasms caused by PGF2 alpha in musculature of both normal and inflamed appendix significantly. This indicates that, in addition to its influence on prostaglandin synthesis indomethacin also has another mechanism of activity, may be even at the level of prostaglandin receptors.

Appendix↗

PubMed1989

[Mucocele of appendix-report of three cases].

Mucocele of appendix comprises 0.07%-0.3% of the resection of appendix. Three such cases were encountered over the past four years at MMH. Tumor mass could be palpated before operation in two of our cases. The third case was found incidentally during sigmoid cancer resection. Mucocele of the appendix should be differentiated from submucosal lesion such as leiomyoma, lipoma, lymphoma in the cecum or appendiceal abscess. Recent advances of ultrasound, CAT scan as well as angiography have made correct preoperative diagnosis possible, yet literature still shows diverse opinion about its etiology (neoplastic vs. obstructive). Although most authors favor simple appendectomy for the management of this disease, some surgeons still think it should be managed aggressively with colectomy. Rupture of mucocele might result in pseudomyxoma peritonei and possibly a fetal outcome. Avoidance of iatrogenic rupture of appendix is essential. Aggressive removal of accessible masses and implants was suggested in the literature.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

The correlation between gross appearance of the appendix at appendicectomy and histological examination.

A retrospective review of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of appendicitis or thought to have appendicitis at laparotomy showed a discrepancy between the surgeons' opinion of the macroscopic appearance of the appendix and the pathologist's opinion (which was assumed to be the most accurate) in 14.5% of cases. All cases were false positive diagnoses. Using the surgeons' descriptions of the appendix at appendicectomy, a sub-group can be identified with an 80% error rate. In this group, the terms used to describe the appendix were 'mild, early, slight or moderate inflammation'. This error rate is often ignored in studies on appendicitis. We recommend that only the terms 'normal' 'inflamed' or 'gangrenous or perforated' should be used to describe the appendix. If there is any doubt, it should be classed as normal. These recommendations will improve diagnostic accuracy at operation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Coexistence of primary Crohn's disease and carcinoid tumor isolated to the appendix. A case report.

A patient is described in whom isolated Crohn's disease of the appendix was present simultaneously with isolated carcinoid tumor of the appendix. Appendectomy was the primary therapy and no recurrence of either disease has been discovered after four years of follow-up. We believe this to be the first case of its type to be reported. Crohn's disease of the appendix, carcinoid tumors of the appendix and the occurrence of gastrointestinal tumors in conjunction with Crohn's disease are all briefly discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1978

[The first stages of the appendix development in the human embryo].

The cecoappendicular area of 14 human embryos with a length ranging from 6 to 17 mm from vertex to coccyx (28 to 48 days old; Carnegie stages 13 to 19) was studied. The appendix is not an atrophic remain of the caecum, it develops at the same time as the caecum. The first morphological anlage of the organ is observed in human embryos from 6 to 10 mm (28 to 37 days of age; Carnegie stages 13 to 16) in the form of an elevation covered with coelomic epithelium, constituted by the mesenchyme which surrounds the anlage of the caecum. In later stages, on human embryos of 11 to 16 mm (37 to 44 days of age; Carnegie stages 16 to 18), the mesoblastic anlage of the appendix is more evident, but it is not invaded by the entoblastic cells which come from the caecum on embryos of 12 to 13 mm. On embryos of about 17 mm (48 days old; Carnegie stage 19) the entoblastic anlage of the appendix has invaded the original mesoblastic anlage. The formation of the appendix by two anlage one earlier, mesoblastic, and another later, entoblastic, is similar to that of other lymphoid organs like the sack of Fabricius in birds.

Appendix↗