Chronic recurrent appendicitis. A clinicopathologic study of 47 cases.

As part of a retrospective study 47 appendices from patients with a clinical and morphologic diagnosis of chronic recurrent appendicitis were studied by morphologic and immunohistochemical methods. Appendices with chronic recurrent appendicitis histologically show chronic active inflammation with increased numbers of immunocompetent cells, mostly T lymphocytes and subsequent scarring. In addition, there is an increase in the number of neural cells. Apparently the secretion of neurotropic inflammatory mediators, especially by activated and degranulating eosinophils, leads to a stimulation of nociceptive receptors and thus to the clinical symptoms. The diagnosis of recurrent chronic appendicitis is thus warranted in these cases not only clinically but also on the basis of histologic and immunohistochemical findings.