Resolution of the appendiceal mass in Nigerian Igbos

Appendicitis is reputed to be rare or unknown in African communities, but this is not true of the Igbos of Nigeria, West Africa. This paper reports the histologic features of appendices from eight Igbo patients who underwent interval appendectomy two to six months after conservative treatment for appendiceal masses that resolved satisfactorily. Resolution was complete histologically in the two children in the series. In five adult patients, one or more sections of the appendix contained residual inflammation or luminal obliteration. In the remaining adult patient, schistosomiasis coexisted with both inflammation and obliteration.