Clinicopathological Correlation of Appendiceal Biopsy Findings in Patients at a Tertiary Healthcare Facility

Background: acute appendicitis is a common abdominal disease often resolved through surgical removal of the appendix (appendectomy). Post-surgical tissue analysis (histopathology) of the appendix frequently identifies microscopic abnormalities, even when the appendix appears normal to the naked eye (macroscopically). This suggests that underlying pathological processes, such as unexpected tumor growth or parasitic infections, can be present in appendices without visible signs of disease. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study analyzed all appendectomy specimens submitted for histopathological evaluation at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, spanning the period from January 2024 to December 2024. The investigation encompassed the complete set of available histopathology reports for all appendix biopsies performed on patients within this defined one-year interval. Results: the analyzed cohort of 182 appendectomy specimens revealed a predominance of acute appendicitis, representing 57.7% (n=105) of the histopathological diagnoses. The demographic profile of the biopsied individuals showed a higher representation of males (n=109, 59%) relative to females (n=73, 40%). Stratification by age indicated the 11-20 year demographic as having the largest proportion of appendectomy cases (24%). Furthermore, while acute pathologies constituted the numerical majority, proportional analysis across age strata demonstrated a relative increase in chronic appendicitis diagnoses within the 21-30 year age group compared to younger cohorts. Conclusions: Post-appendectomy, detailed microscopic analysis of the removed appendix is crucial to confirm its identity, precisely diagnose any existing disease (like inflammation or infection), and importantly, to exclude the presence of hidden cancerous growths. This thorough histopathological examination is a fundamental step for accurate diagnosis and the detection of any unexpected malignancies.