Human appendix and neoplasia

The relationship of previous appendectomy to cancer was studied in the consecutive postmortem records of 1287 cases: 122 living patients with lymphomas and leukemias were also studied. Of 608 postmortem cases with cancer, 35.2% had previous appendectomy. Of a comparable group of 679 cases without cancer 24% had no appendix. The appendix had been removed in 23% of 443 cases with vascular disease; 47.9% of 94 cases with cancer of the colon and rectum (significantly at P = < 0.0001); 57.6% of 66 cases with cancer of the breast (P = < 0.0001); 83% of 24 cases with cancer of die ovary (P = 0.0001); 40% of 57 patients with Hodgkin's disease and 50% of 22 patients with granulocytic leukemia. The data suggest a systemic and local effect which is exhibited only in approximately one third of the patient's with cancer, lymphoma or leukemia; they also suggest that the function of the appendix may influence the induction of leukemia, lymphoma or other neoplastic disease in a restricted susceptible population. Further prospective and retrospective investigations including animal experimentation are necessary to define the nature of this association.