"The purpose of this book is to provide a 'ready reference' for pathologists and surgeons (and residents in training) on the pathology of the vermiform appendix and the surgical treatment of its disorders." "At present there is no single English-language monograph devoted entirely to this topic despite the fact that the appendix is the organ most commonly removed in intra-abdominal 'emergency' operations." "It is now over l00 years since the first surgical removal of an appendix for acute appendicitis. In this time there have been major advances in our understanding of pathological processes and a great increase in the availability of diagnostic tests and therapeutic agents, yet many purportedly normal appendices are still removed. This is partly due to the difficulty in localizing the source of intra-abdominal pain and the potential complications of acute appendicitis, but is also due to the fact that many other disease processes mimic the appendicitis syndrome and there is no specific diagnostic laboratory test for the disease." "This text covers the full range of disease processes in the appendix, both neoplastic and non-neoplastic. The development, structure and possible functions of the organ are discussed, as is the current state of knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of disease in the appendix. Other possible causes for the pain experienced in the appendicitis syndrome are considered and explanations commonly given for the causes of this pain are reviewed. The potential for non-surgical therapy is explored." "The book concludes with a review of the surgical treatment of pathological processes in the appendix, thus bringing together in one text both the pathology of the appendix and its treatment."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved