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 ...

When waste material passes through the colon, it can sometimes clog the appendix. This blockage allows bacteria to multiply rapidly, leading to infection, swelling, and severe pain. If left untreated, ...

Filmmaker Kiran Rao recently underwent appendix surgery and is recovering well. Her experience has renewed focus on ...

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 ...

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 ...

Many Americans grew up with the idea their appendix is an unnecessary organ, made obsolete by evolution. But in the last 20 years or so, scientists have come to believe the appendix serves a purpose, ...

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 ...

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 ...