Causes of Appendicitis

• Fecalith (most common)+−

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  A calcified stool fragment can obstruct the lumen; mucus builds pressure, venous flow fails, and bacteria proliferate. Not every case shows a fecalith; when appendicolith is seen on imaging it also informs perforation risk and non-operative failure risk.

• Other obstructive causes+−

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  Lymphoid hyperplasia after infection can narrow the lumen, especially in children and young adults. Foreign bodies are uncommon. No single food has been shown to reliably prevent or alone cause appendicitis.

• Rarely a tumor+−

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  Neuroendocrine tumor (NET), mucinous neoplasia, or adenocarcinoma can obstruct and present as “ordinary” appendicitis. Pathology catches what the operating room cannot always see.

• From blockage to perforation+−

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  After obstruction, rising pressure, ischemia, and bacterial growth can progress to gangrene and perforation within hours. This is not a cold that “passes.” Early evaluation lowers perforation and abscess risk.

  • Obstruction → mucus build-up
  • Ischemia → bacterial growth
  • Delay → perforation / abscess

More chapters in this hub

• Appendicitis Symptoms

  What patients notice — and which warning signs need urgent care

• Appendicitis Diagnosis

  Exam, ultrasound, CT, and labs

• Laparoscopic Appendectomy

  Laparoscopic surgery: what the procedure aims to do and who it fits

• Appendicitis Complications

  Patient education on complications in appendicitis