Histopathological Spectrum of Appendicectomy Specimens: A 1-year Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Care Center

A BSTRACT Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery. While appendicectomy is curative, routine histopathological evaluation remains debated. Patient management can be altered by the incidental detection of rare but clinically significant pathologies, including low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs), neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), parasitic infestations, and granulomatous lesions. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 900 appendicectomy specimens was conducted over 1 year. Data on age, gender, and histopathological diagnosis were analyzed. The study aimed to analyze the histopathological spectrum of appendicectomy specimens in a tertiary care center, highlighting both common and rare findings. Results: The mean age was 26.1 ± 16.2 years, with a male predominance (63.1%). Acute appendicitis was the most frequent diagnosis (78.2%), followed by lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (12.2%) and resolving appendicitis (5.1%). Rare but clinically relevant findings included LAMN (1.7%), NETs (1.1%), and other uncommon lesions such as lymphoma, endometriosis, granulomatous inflammation, and parasitic infestations. Conclusion: Routine histopathological evaluation of appendicectomy specimens is essential, as it identifies rare but significant pathologies that may influence prognosis and management. These findings reinforce the importance of mandatory microscopic examination of all resected appendixes.