[Clinical and Histopathologic Picture of Acute Appendicitis in Children]

A retrospective study of the clinical and histopathological picture of acute appendicitis in children confirms agreement of the evaluation of the finding on the appendix made by the surgeon and pathologist in 72.2% and disagreement in 27.8%. The finding is overrated in 11.3% and underrated in 16.5%. Agreement is closest in phlegmonous appendicitis (88.1%) and lowest in gangrenous appendicitis (54.9%). The most frequently overrated finding is in catarrhal appendicitis (20.7%). The number of missed appendectomies is from the pathologist's point of view significantly lower (21.8%) than from the surgeon's point of view (34.7%). This indicates obviously that it is not possible to make an accurate macroscopic assessment of the progress of appendiceal inflammation. The number of "negative" appendectomies is according to the surgeon 15.8% and according to the pathologist 16.8%, i.e. almost equal.