HISTOPATHOLOGY OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN CHILDREN IN ZARIA.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pathology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Appendicitis is a frequent cause of acute abdomen in children.
• Histology is the definitive diagnostic method for appendicitis, despite existing preoperative diagnostic guidelines.
• Histological diagnosis relies on identifying inflammatory infiltrates extending beyond the mucosa into the submucosa and muscularis propria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the pathological features of appendicitis in 32 pediatric patients.
• To analyze the histological findings in children undergoing appendectomy for suspected appendicitis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of pathology records for consecutive appendectomies in children over two years.
• Documentation of gross descriptions and histological assessment of H&E stained slides.
• Evaluation of appendix length, gross abnormalities, perforation, mucosal lymphoid hyperplasia, ulceration, inflammatory cell type, submucosal reparative changes, and peritoneal involvement.

Main Results:

• Thirty-two children (ages 4 months to 17 years; 62.5% male) underwent appendectomy for appendicitis.
• Appendicitis was classified as simple (34.4%), complicated (43.7%), or subacute/chronic (21.9%).
• All cases exhibited mucosal lymphoid hyperplasia, and no negative appendices were identified.

Conclusions:

• Appendicitis in children frequently presents with complications prior to surgical intervention.
• Histological findings confirm appendicitis in all examined cases, underscoring its diagnostic importance.