[Appendicitis and its atypical causes]

The authors analysed 2849 patients who were admitted to the Department of General Surgery, Regional Hospital in Pisz in the years 1980-1989 with symptoms suggestive of appendicitis. In 983 cases surgical intervention was abandoned, because the symptoms regressed spontaneously or were caused by diseases of other organs. The pathological conditions associated with appendicitis are analysed in 1866 surgically treated patients. Cases of appendicitis caused by Oxyuris vermicularis, Salmonella-enteritidis and actinomycosis (one case each) and appendicular carcinoma (2 cases) are described in more detail. Attention is called to the aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment of these rare causes of appendicitis.