DEAR DOCTOR K: Why do doctors remove the appendix when someone has appendicitis? Don't we need this organ? DEAR READER: Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. This small, fingerlike tube ...

Removing a healthy appendix may be more harmful than many have thought, requiring longer hospitals stays and an increased rate of side effects, according to a new University of Washington study ...

Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical writer in South Florida. She worked as a communications professional for health nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of ...

Appendicitis often begins with dull pain in the lower abdomen. But it can quickly transform into an emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix, a ...

MINNEAPOLIS — Stephen Colbert is away from late-night TV following emergency surgery last week — the comedian's appendix burst. That made us wonder: What does the appendix do for our body? And why are ...

After Kiran Rao revealed she needed surgery for an enlarged appendix, doctor breaks down what a ‘12 mm appendix’ indicates ...

That sudden pain in your abdomen might just be indigestion—or it could be something far more serious. When it comes to appendicitis, knowing the difference could save your life. This potentially ...

Appendicitis symptoms start with belly pain that moves and intensifies in your lower right side. Without surgery, perforated appendicitis can lead to serious complications like peritonitis or sepsis.

In an attempt to limit radiation exposure from CT in the evaluation of abdominal pain, many centers have adopted an "ultrasound first, followed by CT if needed" approach. CT is typically used when the ...