[Appendectomy and colo-rectal carcinoma. Clinico-statistical and experimental studies].

A clinico-statistical investigation has been carried out with a view to establishing whether or not there is any correlation between appendicectomy and onset of colorectal cancer. The analysis showed that the frequencies of appendicectomy in the sample studied and in the control sample were not statistically different. On the other hand, it was observed that in patients suffering from colorectal carcinoma, the age at which appendicectomy was performed is is greater than in control subjects, with a constant mean interval in males and females (17 years). Experimental research on appendicectomized rats confirmed that the incidence of clinically induced tumours is no greater than that observed in control animals.