[A clinicopathological observation of 15 cases of tuberculosis of the appendix].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinicopathological features and diagnosis of tuberculosis of the appendix.


METHODS
Fifteen cases (0.27%) with tuberculosis of appendix selected from 5,621 histopathologically examined appendectomy specimens between June 1959 and May 1995 were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
All the cases with tuberculosis of appendix were commonly occurred in the young (< or = 34 years in 12 cases) and in females (in 11 cases). They were usually secondary to tuberculosis elsewhere in the abdomen. By microscopy, proliferative type of the lesions were found in 11 cases, while ulcerative type in 4 cases. Fourteen cases (accounting for 93%) were clinically misdiagnosed. It was difficult to be differentiated from chronic appendicitis, tuberculosis or tumor of the ileocecum and malignant tumor of the appendix.


CONCLUSIONS
Definite diagnosis of tuberculosis of the appendix mainly depend on the histopathological examination. It is recommended that in order to avoid misdiagnosis, all the surgically removed appendix specimens should be histopathologically examined, no matter whether the specimens are macroscopically normal or not.
Zhang
Z
Z
Department of Pathology, Medical School of Hubei Sanxia University, Yichang.
Gu
J
J
Zhu
Z
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000473:pathology*