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 ...
Pity the poor appendix, a 2- to 4-inch-long wormlike pouch dangling from the head of the cecum, where the large and small intestines meet. For most of its medical history — anatomists have known about ...
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Your appendix might not be useless after all—and new research says it could be an evolutionary secret weapon
For years, the appendix carried a reputation as the body’s most pointless organ. Doctors often removed it without hesitation, ...
This small organ can cause big problems when inflammation sets in, potentially leading to life-threatening complications if left untreated. That nagging pain in your abdomen might be more than just a ...
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 ...
The misdiagnosis of appendicitis has been a thorn in the side of doctors for decades. Yet the rates of unnecessary appendectomies aren't improving despite advances in diagnostic technology, according ...
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