Clinicopathological differences between patients with schistosomal appendicitis and non schistosomal appendicitis:A retrospectively study of past ten years

BACKGROUND Chronic schistosomiasis causes multiple organ and multiple system diseases,especially the digestive system.Schistosome eggs are mainly deposited in the stomach,liver and colorectal,but a few eggs are deposited in the appendix and cause disease.At present,there are few studies on schistosomal appendicitis.AIM To explore the differences in epidemiological,clinical and pathological characteristics between schistosomal appendicitis and non-schistosomal appendicitis over the past decade in order to assess the impact of schistosomiasis on appendicitis.METHODS The differences of general data,clinical data and laboratory examination data of patients with appendicitis from October 2013 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were divided into two groups for analysis.There were 136 patients in schistosomal appendicitis group and 5418 patients in non-schistosomal appendicitis group.RESULTS Schistosomal appendicitis accounted for 2.45%of all patients with appendicitis,and the annual proportion in the past decade was 2.2%,2.9%,1.8%,1.9%,3.4%,3.1%,1.9%,1.6%,3%,2.6%,respectively.The prevalence of schistosomal appendicitis was middle-aged and elderly males,with an average age of 61.73±15.335 years.The main population of non-schistosomal appendicitis was middle-aged men,with an average age of 35.8±24.013 years(P<0.001).The distribution of pathological types of appendicitis was different between the two groups(P<0.001).The incidence of acute suppurative appendicitis in non-schistosomal appendicitis was higher than that in schistosomal appendicitis[odds ratio(OR)=0.504;95%confidence interval(CI):0.349-0.728;P<0.001].The proportion of acute attack of chronic appendicitis in schistosomal appendicitis was higher than that in non-schistosomal appendicitis(OR=2.614;95%CI:1.815-3.763;P<0.001).The proportion of schistosomal appendicitis patients complicated with colorectal cancer was higher than that of nonschistosomal appendicitis patients(OR=5.087;95%CI:1.427-18.132;P=0.012).There was no difference in clinical symptoms between the two groups.In the laboratory examination,there was a significant difference in white blood cells between schistosomal appendicitis and non-schistosomal appendicitis.The level of white blood cells in schistosomal appendicitis group was slightly higher than the upper limit of the normal range.Other statistically significant indicators were in the normal range.CONCLUSION Schistosomal appendicitis is a severe condition that is often associated with intestinal malignancies,potentially leading to a poor prognosis.Schistosomal appendicitis is more likely to be misdiagnosed and missed diagnosed in clinical work because of its nonspecific clinical manifestations and laboratory examination.It is crucial to differentiate schistosomal appendicitis in middle-aged and elderly male patients presenting with appendicitis,and to ensure early detection and treatment.

Is appendoscope a new option for the treatment of acute appendicitis?

Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency.It is commonly caused by obstruction of the appendiceal lumen due to fecaliths,tumors,or lymphoid hyperplasia.For over a century,appendectomy has been the primary treatment for acute appendicitis.Abraham Groves performed the first open appendectomy in 1883.In 1983,Kurt Semm completed the first laparoscopic appendectomy,heralding a new era in appendectomy.However,appendectomy is associated with certain complications and a rate of negative appendectomies.Studies have suggested controversy over the impact of appendectomy on the development of inflammatory bowel disease and Parkinson’s disease,but an increasing number of studies indicate a possible positive correlation between appendectomy and colorectal cancer,gallstones,and cardiovascular disease.With the recognition that the appendix is not a vestigial organ and the advancement of endoscopic technology,Liu proposed the endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy.It is an effective minimally invasive alternative for treating uncomplicated acute appendicitis.Our team has developed an appendoscope with a disposable digital imaging system operated through the biopsy channel of a colonoscope and successfully applied it in the treatment of appendicitis.This article provides an overview of the progress in endoscopic treatment for acute appendicitis and offers a new perspective on the future direction of appendiceal disease treatment.

Indication of conservative treatment by antibiotics for uncomplicated and complicated acute appendicitis

BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis is one of the most common emergency abdominal disease,and recent studies have evaluated conservative treatment using antibiotics for uncomplicated appendicitis.Although the efficacy of conservative treatment for uncomplicated appendicitis is known,its efficacy for complicated appendicitis remains unknown,so are risk factors for the conservative treatment of appendi-citis.In our institution,conservative treatment has long been the first choice for most appendicitis cases,except for perforation.Therefore,this novel study inves-tigated the outcomes of conservative treatment for uncomplicated and compli-cated acute appendicitis and the risk factors associated with conservative treat-ment.treatment.The significant and independent predictors of resistance to conservative treatment were body temperature≥37.3℃,appendicolith and Douglas sinus fluid visible on computed tomography(CT).The rate of resistance to conservative treatment was 66.7%(6/9)for patients with the above three factors,22.9%(8/35)for patients with two factors(appendicolith and body temperature≥37.3℃),16.7%(2/12)for patients with two factors(Douglas sinus fluid and appendicolith)and 11.1%(1/9)for patients with two factors(Douglas sinus fluid and body temperature≥37.3℃).CONCLUSION A temperature≥37.3℃,appendicolith and Douglas sinus fluid on CT might be clinical risk factors of resistance to conservative treatment for acute appendicitis.

Application of scoring systems with point-of-care ultrasonography for bedside diagnosis of appendicitis

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is a common disease requiring surgery. Bedside ultrasound(BUS) is a core technique for emergency medicine(EM). The Alvarado score is a well-studied diagnostic tool for appendicitis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between patients' symptoms, Alvarado score and ultrasound(US) findings, as performed by emergency physicians(EPs) and radiologists, of patients with suspected appendicitis.METHODS: Three EM specialists underwent the BUS course and core course for appendicitis assessment. Patients suspected of having appendicitis were selected and their Alvarado and modif ied(m) Alvarado scores calculated. The specialists performed the BUS. Then, patients were given a formal US and surgery consultation if necessary. Preliminary diagnoses, admission or discharge from the emergency department(ED) and fi nal diagnosis were documented. The patients were also followed up after discharge from the hospital.RESULTS: The determined cut-off value was 2 for Alvarado and 3 for m Alvarado scores. The sensitivities of the two scores were 100%. Each score was used to rule out appendicitis. The results of EP-performed BUS were as follows: accuracy 70%, sensitivity 0.733, specifi city 0.673, + LR 2.24, and – LR 0.40(95%CI). Radiologists were better than EPs at diagnosing appendicitis and radiologists and EPs were equally strong at ruling out appendicitis by US. When US was combined with Alvarado and m Alvarado scores, EP US+Alvarado/m Alvarado scores ≤3 and radiology US+Alvarado/m Alvarado scores ≤4 perfectly ruled out appendicitis.CONCLUSION: BUS performed by EPs is moderately useful in detecting appendicitis. Combined with scoring systems, BUS may be a perfect tool for ruling out decisions in EDs.

Added value of ratio of cross diameters of the appendix in ultrasound diagnosis of acute appendicitis

BACKGROUND The maximum outer diameter(MOD)of the appendix is an essential parameter for diagnosing acute appendicitis,but there is space for improvement in ultrasound(US)diagnostic performance.AIM To investigate whether combining the ratio of the cross diameters(RATIO)of the appendix with MOD of the appendix can enhance the diagnostic performance of acute appendicitis.METHODS A retrospective study was conducted,and medical records of 233 patients with acute appendicitis and 112 patients with a normal appendix were reviewed.The MOD and RATIO of the appendix were calculated and tested for their diagnostic performance of acute appendicitis,both individually and in combination.RESULTS The RATIO for a normal appendix was 1.32±0.16,while for acute appendicitis it was 1.09±0.07.The cut-off value for RATIO was determined to be≤1.18.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)for diagnosing acute appendicitis using RATIO≤1.18 and MOD>6 mm was 0.870 and 0.652,respectively.There was a significant difference in AUC between RATIO≤1.18 and MOD>6 mm(P<0.0001).When comparing the combination of RATIO≤1.18 and MOD>6 mm with MOD>6 mm alone,the combination showed increased specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and AUC.However,the sensitivity and negative predictive value decreased.CONCLUSION Combining RATIO of the appendix≤1.18 and MOD>6 mm can significantly improve the specificity,PPV,and AUC in the US diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Influence of sarcopenia and frailty in the management of elderly patients with acute appendicitis

In developed countries,the average life expectancy has been increasing and is now well over 80 years.Increased life expectancy is associated with an increased number of emergency surgical procedures performed in later age groups.Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical diseases,with a lifetime risk of 8%.A growing incidence of acute appendicitis has been registered in the elderly population and in the oldest groups(>80 years).Among patients>50-year-old who present to the emergency department for acute abdominal pain,15%have acute appendicitis.In these patients,emergency surgery for acute appendicitis is challenging,and some important aspects must be considered.In the elderly,surgical treatment outcomes are influenced by sarcopenia.Sarcopenia must be considered a precursor of frailty,a risk factor for physical function decline.Sarcopenia has a negative impact on both elective and emergency surgery regarding mortality and morbidity.Aside from morbidity and mortality,the most crucial outcomes for older patients requiring emergency surgery are reduction in function decline and preoperative physical function maintenance.Therefore,prediction of function decline is critical.In emergency surgery,preoperative interventions are difficult to implement because of the narrow time window before surgery.In this editorial,we highlight the unique aspects of acute appendicitis in elderly patients and the influence of sarcopenia and frailty on the results of surgical treatment.

Bilharzia Appendicitis: Incidence in a Commune in Mali, about 3CAS

Appendicitis bilharzia is a very rare condition and we report 3 cases of this pathology that sense clinical and biological similarities with bacterial appendicitis. The etiological diagnosis was exclusively histopathological, this allowed to highlight eggs of Schistosome in the appendicular wall in the three patients. The surgical treatment was supplemented by a specific medical treatment based on praziquantel. The surgical suites were simple for 2 patients, complicated by superficial parietal suppuration in a patient.

Clinical significance of peri-appendiceal abscess and phlegmon in acute complicated appendicitis patients undergoing emergency appendectomy

BACKGROUND Although antibiotic therapy has become the primary treatment for acute unco-mplicated appendicitis,the management of acute complicated appendicitis nece-ssitates careful consideration of various treatment options.AIM To analyze the clinical data of patients who underwent emergency appendectomy for acute complicated appendicitis with peri-appendiceal abscess or phlegmon,identify factors influencing the postoperative length of hospital stay(LOS),and improve treatment strategies.METHODS The clinical data of acute complicated appendicitis patients with peri-appendiceal abscess or phlegmon who underwent emergency appendectomy at The Depart-ment of Emergency Surgery,Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University from January 2016 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS A total of 234 patients were included in our study.The duration of symptoms and the presence of an appendicolith were significantly correlated with the occurrence of peri-appendiceal abscess in patients with acute complicated appendicitis(P<0.001 and P=0.015,respectively).Patients with symptoms lasting longer than 72 h had a significantly longer postoperative LOS compared to those with symptoms lasting 72 h or less[hazard ratio(HR),1.208;95%CI:1.107-1.319;P<0.001].Additionally,patients with peri-appendiceal abscesses had a significantly longer postoperative LOS compared to those with phlegmon(HR,1.217;95%CI:1.095-1.352;P<0.001).The patients with peri-appendiceal abscesses were divided into two groups based on the median size of the abscess:Those with abscesses smaller than 5.0 cm(n=69)and those with abscesses 5.0 cm or larger(n=82).Patients with peri-appendiceal abscesses measuring 5.0 cm or larger had a significantly longer postoperative LOS than those with abscesses smaller than 5.0 cm(P=0.038).CONCLUSION The duration of symptoms and the presence of an appendicolith are significant risk factors for the formation of peri-appendiceal abscesses in patients with acute complicated appendicitis.Patients with peri-appendiceal abscesses experience a significantly longer postoperative LOS compared to those with peri-appendiceal phlegmon.

Evaluation of the clinical effects of atropine in combination with remifentanil in children undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis

BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis(AA)is the most common cause of acute abdomen in children.Anesthesia significantly influences the surgical treatment of AA in children,making the scientific and effective selection of anesthetics crucial.AIM To assess the clinical effect of atropine(ATR)in combination with remifentanil(REMI)in children undergoing surgery for AA.METHODS In total,108 cases of pediatric AA treated between May 2020 and May 2023 were selected,58 of which received ATR+REMI[research group(RG)]and 50 who received REMI[control group(CG)].Comparative analyses were conducted on the time to loss of eyelash reflex,pain resolution time,recovery time from anesthesia,incidence of adverse events(AEs;respiratory depression,hypoxemia,bradycardia,nausea and vomiting,and hypotension),intraoperative responses(head shaking,limb activity,orientation recovery,safe departure time from the operating room),hemodynamic parameters[oxygen saturation(SPO2),mean arterial pressure,heart rate,and respiratory rate],postoperative sedation score(Ramsay score),and pain level[the Face,Legs,Activity,Cry,Consolability(FLACC)Behavioral Scale].RESULTS Compared with the CG,the RG showed significantly shorter time to loss of eyelash reflex,pain resolution,recovery from anesthesia,and safe departure from the operating room.Furthermore,the incidence rates of overall AEs(head shaking,limb activity,etc.)were lower,and influences on intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and stress response indexes were fewer.The Ramsay score at 30 min after extubation and the FLACC score at 60 min after extubation were significantly lower in the RG than in the CG.CONCLUSION ATR+REMI is superior to REMI alone in children undergoing AA surgery,with a lower incidence of AEs,fewer influences on hemodynamics and stress responses,and better post-anesthesia recovery.

Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis treatment for periappendiceal abscess: A case report

BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis is the most common abdominal emergency.At present,the main treatments for periappendiceal abscess include antibiotics and surgery.However,the complications and mortality of emergency surgery are high.The preferred therapy is conservative treatment with antibiotics first,ultrasound-guided puncture drainage or surgical treatment is followed when necessary.Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy(ERAT)for acute uncomplicated appendicitis have been proved clinically effective,but it is rarely used in periap-pendiceal abscess.CASE SUMMARY We report a patient admitted to hospital because of“right lower abdominal pain for six days”.The computerized tomography(CT)of patient showed that appendicitis with fecaliths and abscess in the pelvis.The patient was treated by CT-guided puncture and drainage of abdominal abscess combined with ERAT to remove appendiceal fecaliths,irrigation and stent placement.CONCLUSION The patient did not receive surgery because of impoverished family.Abdominal pain did not recur during the follow-up period.This case confirms the value of ERAT in the treatment of periappendiceal abscess.

Modified technical protocol for single-port laparoscopic appendectomy using needle-type grasping forceps for acute simple appendicitis:A case report

BACKGROUND Because of the mild inflammatory status in acute uncomplicated appendicitis,our team developed a novel technical protocol for single-port laparoscopic appendec-tomy using needle-type grasping forceps(SLAN)and achieved positive clinical outcomes.However,the intraoperative procedure lacked stability and fluency due to a series of problems highlighted by the small incision design of the proto-col(only 1 cm long).Therefore,there is a growing clinical demand to further opti-mize the SLAN protocol.CASE SUMMARY An adult male patient was admitted for persistent right lower abdominal pain with preoperative computed tomography findings suggestive of appendicitis accompanied by localized peritonitis.A modified technical protocol for SLAN based on minimally invasive surgical principles was used,and the patient was confirmed to have acute simple appendicitis by postoperative pathological ana-lysis.Postoperative recovery was uneventful,and no postoperative complications,such as incision infection or severe incision pain,were observed.The patient was discharged successfully on postoperative day 2.CONCLUSION The modified technical protocol of SLAN may be a new minimally invasive surgical alternative for patients with acute simple appendicitis.

Appendicitis combined with Meckel’s diverticulum obstruction, perforation, and inflammation in children: Three case reports

BACKGROUND Meckel’s diverticulum is a common congenital malformation of the small intestine,with the three most common complications being obstruction,per-foration,and inflammation.To date,only a few cases have been reported world-wide.In children,the clinical symptoms are similar to appendicitis.As most of the imaging features are nonspecific,the preoperative diagnosis is not precise.In addition,the clinical characteristics are highly similar to pediatric acute appendicitis,thus special attention is necessary to distinguish Meckel’s diver-ticulum from pediatric appendicitis.Patients with poor disease control should undergo laparoscopic exploration to avoid serious complications,including intestinal necrosis,intestinal perforation and gastrointestinal bleeding.CASE SUMMARY This report presents three cases of appendicitis in children combined with intestinal obstruction,which was caused by fibrous bands(ligaments)arising from the top part of Meckel's diverticulum,diverticular perforation,and diver-ticular inflammation.All three patients,aged 11-12 years,had acute appendicitis as their initial clinical presentation.All were treated by laparoscopic surgery with a favorable outcome.A complete dataset including clinical presentation,dia-gnostic imaging,surgical information,and histopathologic findings was also provided.CONCLUSION Preoperative diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum and its complications is challenging because its clinical signs and complications are similar to those of appendicitis in children.Laparoscopy combined with laparotomy is useful for diagnosis and treatment.

Systemic immune-inflammation index combined with pediatric appendicitis score in assessing the severity and prognosis for paediatric appendicitis

BACKGROUND Pediatric appendicitis is a common cause of abdominal pain in children and is recognized as a significant surgical emergency.A prompt and accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent complications such as perforation and peritonitis.AIM To investigate the predictive value of the systemic immune-inflammation index(SII)combined with the pediatric appendicitis score(PAS)for the assessment of disease severity and surgical outcomes in children aged 5 years and older with appendicitis.METHODS Clinical data of 104 children diagnosed with acute appendicitis were analyzed.The participants were categorized into the acute appendicitis group and chronic appendicitis group based on disease presentation and further stratified into the good prognosis group and poor prognosis group based on prognosis.The SII and PAS were measured,and a joint model using the combined SII and PAS was constructed to predict disease severity and surgical outcomes.RESULTS Significant differences were observed in the SII and PAS parameters between the acute appendicitis group and chronic appendicitis group.Correlation analysis showed associations among the SII,PAS,and disease severity,with the combined SII and PAS model demonstrating significant predictive value for assessing disease severity[aera under the curve(AUC)=0.914]and predicting surgical outcomes(AUC=0.857)in children aged 5 years and older with appendicitis.CONCLUSION The study findings support the potential of integrating the SII with the PAS for assessing disease severity and predicting surgical outcomes in pediatric appendicitis,indicating the clinical utility of the combined SII and PAS model in guiding clinical decision-making and optimizing surgical management strategies for pediatric patients with appendicitis.

Analysis of the Clinical Value of Surgical Treatment and Postoperative Anti-Infection Treatment of Acute Suppurative Appendicitis

Objective: To explore the clinical value of surgical treatment and postoperative anti-infection treatment for acute suppurative appendicitis. Methods: A total of 116 patients with acute suppurative appendicitis were enrolled in this study. The collection period was from December 2021 to December 2023. The patients were randomly grouped into a control group (surgical treatment) and an observation group (surgical treatment and postoperative anti-infection treatment), of 58 patients each. At the end of the treatment, the results of each index of the two groups were compared. Results: The length of hospitalization time, exhaust time, and incidence of complications in the observation group were shorter than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It is crucial to perform anti-infective treatment promptly after surgical treatment in patients with acute suppurative appendicitis. It can effectively prevent the occurrence of complications and improve the clinical efficacy. Hence, it is worthy of research and promotion.

Ultrasonography-triggered diagnosis of putrid,ulcero-phlegmonous,hemorrhagic appendicitis and periappendicitis with an atypical symptom pattern:a case report

Background:Asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic appendicitis are rare and challenging diagnoses that should not be missed.Case presentation:A young female patient presented with mild to moderate pain in the middle and lower abdomen,and the results of physical examination,including digital rectal examination,were otherwise non-contributory.Ultrasonography demonstrated a marked increase of the outer appendiceal diameter up to 12.0mm and a trace of free liquid around the terminal ileum.Subsequent surgical exploration and histological examination allowed for a final diagnosis of putrid,ulcero-phlegmonous,hemorrhagic appendicitis and periappendicitis.Conclusion:Ultrasonography is increasingly used for the diagnosis of appendiceal inflammation,particularly in military medical settings.Increases in the outer appendiceal diameter up to>6.0mm under compression have recently been demonstrated to be indicative of acute appendicitis.At a minimum,in cases with doubtful physical examination results,ultrasonography should be considered as an element in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Unusual histopathological findings in appendectomy specimens from patients with suspected acute appendicitis

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and implications of unusual histopathological findings in appendectomy specimens from patients with suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS: The demographic and histopathological data of 1621 patients (≥ 16 years-old) who underwent appendectomy to treat an initial diagnosis of acute appendicitis between January 1999 and November 2011 were retrospectively assessed. Microscopic findings were used to classify the patients under six categories: appendix vermiformis, phlegmonous appendicitis, gan- grenous appendicitis, perforated appendicitis, supurative appendicitis, and unusual histopathologic findings. The demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with unusual histopathologic findings were evaluated in detail, and re-analysis of archived resected appendix specimens was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 912 males and 709 females, from16 to 94 years old, were included in the study and comprised 789 cases of suppurative appendicitis, 370 cases of appendix vermiformis, 243 cases of perforated gangrenous appendicitis, 53 cases of flegmaneous appendicitis, 32 cases of gangrenous appendicitis, and 134 (8.3%) cases of unusual histopathological findings. The unusual histopathological findings included fibrous obliteration (n = 62), enterobius vermicularis (n = 31), eosinophilic infiltration (n = 10), mucinous cystadenoma (n = 8), carcinoid tumor (n = 6), granulomatous inflammation (n = 5), adenocarcinoma (n = 4; one of them mucinous), and mucocele (n = 3), adenomatous polyp (n = 1), taenia sup (n = 1), ascaris lumbricoides (n = 1), appendiceal diverticula (n = 1), and B cell non-hodgkin lymphoma (n = 1). None of the 11 patients with subsequent diagnosis of tumor were suspected of cancer prior to the appendectomy. CONCLUSION: Even when the macroscopic appearance of appendectomy specimens is normal, histopathological assessment will allow early diagnosis of many unusual diseases.

Acute appendicitis: Epidemiology, treatment and outcomesanalysis of 16544 consecutive cases

AIM To investigate the epidemiology,treatment and outcomes of acute appendicitis(AA) in a large population study.METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study derived from the administrative dataset of the Bergamo district healthcare system(more than 1 million inhabitants) from 1997 to 2013.Data about treatment,surgery,length of stay were collected.Moreover for each patients were registered data about relapse of appendicitis and hospital admission due to intestinal obstruction.RESULTS From 1997 to 2013 in the Bergamo district we collected 16544 cases of AA,with a crude incidence rate of 89/100000 inhabitants per year; mean age was 24.51 ± 16.17,54.7% were male and the mean Charlson's comorbidity index was 0.32 ± 0.92.Mortality was < 0.0001%.Appendectomy was performed in 94.7% of the patients and the mean length of stay was 5.08 ± 2.88 d; the cumulative hospital stay was 5.19 ± 3.36 d and 1.2% of patients had at least one further hospitalization due intestinal occlusion.Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 48% of cases.Percent of 5.34 the patients were treated conservatively with a mean length of stay of 3.98 ± 3.96 d; the relapse rate was 23.1% and the cumulative hospital stay during the study period was 5.46 ± 6.05 d.CONCLUSION The treatment of acute appendicitis in Northern Italy is slowly changing,with the large diffusion of laparoscopic approach; conservative treatment of non-complicated appendicitis is still a neglected option,but rich of promising results.

Acute appendicitis following endoscopic mucosal resection of cecal adenoma

Endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR) allows the removal of flat or sessile lesions, laterally spreading tumors, and carcinoma of the colon or the rectum limited to the mucosa or the superficial submucosa. Acute appendicitis is the most common abdominal emergency requiring emergency surgery, and it is also a rare complication of diagnostic colonoscopy and therapeutic endoscopy, including EMR. In the case presented here, a 53-year-old female underwent colonoscopy due to a positive fecal occult blood test and was diagnosed with cecal adenoma. She was referred to our hospital and admitted for treatment. The patient had no other symptoms. EMR was performed, and 7 h after the surgery, the patient experienced right-lower abdominal pain. Laboratory tests performed the following day revealed a WBC count of 16000/mm3, a neutrophil count of 14144/mm3, and a C-reactive protein level of 2.20 mg/d L, indicating an inflammatory response. Computed tomography also revealed appendiceal wall thickening and swelling, so acute appendicitis following EMR was diagnosed. Antibiotics were initiated leading to total resolution of the symptoms, and the patient was discharged on the sixth post-operative day. Pathological analysis revealed a high-grade cecal tubular adenoma. Such acute appendicitis following EMR is extremely rare, and EMR of the cecum may be a rare cause of acute appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis: What is the gold standard of treatment?

McBurney’s procedure represented the gold-standard for acute appendicitis until 1981,but nowadays the number of laparoscopic appendectomies has progressively increased since it has been demonstrated to be a safe procedure,with excellent cosmetic results and it also allows a shorter hospitalization,a quicker and less painful postoperative recovery.The aim of this editorial was to perform a review of the literature in order to address controversial issues in the treatment of acute appendicitis.

Ultrasonography of normal and abnormal appendix in children

Appendicitis is the most common acute surgical emergency of childhood. Since the original report by Puylaert in 1986, the use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of appendicitis has been the subject of considerable study. Among the reported diagnostic criteria, the maximal outer diameter (MOD) of the appendix is accepted as the one of the most reliable criteria used to differentiate between a normal appendix and acute appendicitis. However, MOD measurement is subject to inaccuracies because luminal distention by non-compressible, non-inflammatory material such as fecal material, or increased maximal mural thickness due to reactive mucosal lym-phoid hyperplasia, or a medical cause due to a generalized gastrointestinal disease, such as Crohn’s disease, can cause the measurement to exceed the upper limits of normality. The aim of this article is to introduce the spectrum of ultrasonographic findings in the normal andabnormal appendix and eventually to reduce unneces-sary surgery in children.