[Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of surgical diseases of the cecum (author's transl)].

As a transitional zone between the small and large intestines the cecum occupies a special position in the intestine, anatomically and physiologically. This is expressed also in the manifestation of pathological processes and their symptomatology. Also the most common disease in the cecum is carcinoma. In addition, a number of other neoplasms and inflammatory processes occur. The symptomatology of all these diseases is relatively monotonous. Because of the local conditions, even the sequelae of space-occupying non-inflammatory diseases are concealed for a long time. Effective therapy is thereby delayed. The problem in by far the most common inflammatory disease, Crohn's disease, on the other hand, lies in the necessity of withholding surgical measures.