Published October 19, 2025 | Version v1

Acute appendicitis - differential diagnostic approach

  • 1. ROR icon University Hospital St. Marina
  • 2. ROR icon Medical University of Varna

Description

Introduction: Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common conditions that manifests as an acute surgical abdomen and requires urgent surgical treatment. A wide range of diseases present with acute abdominal pain or acute surgical abdomen. Proper diagnosis requires knowledge of the probable causes of diseases in this category, as well as the typical clinical presentations of each disease. When a patient with an acute surgical abdomen presents, it is necessary to perform a rapid clinical assessment and initiate the necessary therapy.
Aim: The aim of this study is to distinguish, based on contemporary literature, the symptomatology of various diseases resembling acute appendicitis and thereby to aid in the understanding of these diseases, which will result in more accurate diagnosis.
Materials and methods: Scientific articles, monographs, and books on differential diagnostic approaches to acute appendicitis, as well as reports on appendicitis and its surgical treatment, were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar through October 30, 2024. 50 were researched, and 33 of them were selected for the article.
Conclusion: In the diagnostic process for acute appendicitis, a wide range of diseases must be considered and carefully ruled out, given the overlap in their symptoms. Detailed knowledge of the differential diagnoses of acute appendicitis is particularly important in the treatment of patients with acute surgical abdomen, as it ensures better results and minimizes the risks of misdiagnosis.

Abstract (Bulgarian)

Въведение: Острият апендицит (ОА) е едно от най-честите състояния, които се проявяват с остър хирургичен корем и изискват спешно хирургично лечение. Голям брой заболявания протичат  с остра коремна болка или остър хирургичен корем. Правилната диагностика налага познаване на вероятните причини за възникването на заболяване от тази група както и типичната клинична картина, с които протича всяко едно от тези заболявания. При пациент с остър хирургичен корем е необходимо да се постигне бърза клинична оценка и да се започне необходимата терапия.
Цел:  Целта на настоящото проучване е да разграничи,  симптоматологията на различни заболявания наподобяващи остър апендицит и да подпомогне разбирането на по-голяма част от тези заболявания и по-точното поставяне на диагноза.
Материали и методи:  Научни статии  и монографии, съдържащи диференциално-диагностични подходи при остър апендицит както и съобщения за апендицит и неговото хирургично лечение, бяха извадени след търсене в базите данни PubMed и Google Scholar  и други до 30 октомври 2024 г. 50 статии бяха разгледани като 33 от тях бяха селектирани за целта на проучването.
Заключение: При диагностичния процес на острия апендицит трябва да се има предвид голям набор от заболявания, които да се изключват внимателно, особено имайки предвид припокриването на симптомите им. Детайлно познаване на диференциалните диагнози на остър апендицит е от особено значение при лечението на пациенти с остър хирургичен корем като осигурява по-добри резултати и минимализиране на рисковете от неправилно поставена диагноза.

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Additional details

Additional titles

Translated title (Bulgarian)
Остър апендицит - диференциално-диагностичен план

Dates

Issued
2025-10-19

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