Melanosis of the appendix: common in the paediatric age group

Abstract

The findings suggest melanosis of the appendix is relatively common. It is probably due to apoptosis associated with increased epithelial cell turnover due to many differing causes including infection, with purgative ingestion probably involved in only a minority of paediatric cases.

Melanosis of The Appendix Presenting with the Clinic of Acute Appendicitis

“…In a study by Rutty et al 1 , 7.4% of appendix melanosis was reported in adult patients operated for acute appendicitis. Graf et al 6 reported 46% melanosis in 300 appendectomy specimens in the pediatric age group, most of whom were operated for acute appendicitis and abdominal pain. In addition, in this study, the incidence of melanosis was reported to increase with increasing age.…”

“…In addition, in this study, the incidence of melanosis was reported to increase with increasing age. Walker et al 7 reported that hyperpigmented macrophages due to melanosis migrated to the regional lymph nodes that persisted even after the elimination of the stimulus for submucosa and epithelial apoptosis, and Graf et al 6 Atıcı et al reported that pigmented macrophages reduced lymphatic clearance. In the literature, Malik et al 8 reported a patient operated for colonic pseudoobstruction secondary to melanosis coli.…”