Appendicitis classification

Appendicitis Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Appendicitis may be classified at three levels. As appendicitis often results from appendiceal obstruction leading to necrosis and infection, it may be classified based on the cause of the the obstruction. It also can be classified based on the organism causing this infection, or on whether it is perforating or non-perforating.

Classification Based on Type of Obstruction

• Infectious processes
• Fibrosis - such as due to scar tissue from a previous surgery.
• Fecaliths - hard fecal masses.
• Neoplasia - carcinoid, adenocarcinoma, or mucocoele.
• Parasites - in endemic areas.
• Calculi
• Lymphoid hyperplasia

Classification Based on Perforation

• Perforating
  • Escherichia coli
  • Peptostreptococcus
  • Bacteroides fragilis
  • Pseudomonas species