Evaluation of the Relationship Between Histopathological Findings in Appendectomy Specimens and Enterobius vermicularis Infection

Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationship between Enterobius vermicu-laris and appendicitis by determining the frequency of E. vermicularis in appendectomy specimens obtained after a preliminary diagnosis of appendicitis.
Materials and Methods: Retrospective evaluation was conducted on the results of appendectomy specimens examined histopathologically at Van Training and Research Hospital Pathology Laboratory from March 2016 to March 2022. Hematoxylin-eosin stained slides from 7,814 appendectomy specimens were scrutinized for the presence of E. vermicularis, acute inflammation, fecaloid material, lymphoid hyperplasia, oblit-eration, perforation, phlegmonous appendicitis, and peritonitis. Furthermore, slides stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) from patients testing positive for E. vermicularis were re-evaluated by the author in pathology.
Results: E. vermicularis was identified in the appendectomy specimens of 50 (0.64%) out of 7,814 patients who underwent appendectomies. In histopathological examina-tions, the occurrence of lymphoid hyperplasia and fibrous obliteration was higher in E. vermicularis-positive patients compared to those who teste negative. Findings re-vealed that the mean white blood cell count (WBC) was lower in E. vermicularis-positive patients than in negative patients, while the mean eosinophil percentage (EO%) was higher.
Conclusion: These findings imply that although the parasite is not a direct causative factor for appendicitis, it may contribute to the development of factors that result in obstruction in certain cases.