Acute appendicitis - differential diagnostic approach

Introduction: Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common conditions that manifests as an acute surgical abdomen and requires urgent surgical treatment. A wide range of diseases present with acute abdominal pain or acute surgical abdomen. Proper diagnosis requires knowledge of the probable causes of diseases in this category, as well as the typical clinical presentations of each disease. When a patient with an acute surgical abdomen presents, it is necessary to perform a rapid clinical assessment and initiate the necessary therapy.Aim: The aim of this study is to distinguish, based on contemporary literature, the symptomatology of various diseases resembling acute appendicitis and thereby to aid in the understanding of these diseases, which will result in more accurate diagnosis.Materials and methods: Scientific articles, monographs, and books on differential diagnostic approaches to acute appendicitis, as well as reports on appendicitis and its surgical treatment, were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar through October 30, 2024. 50 were researched, and 33 of them were selected for the article.Conclusion: In the diagnostic process for acute appendicitis, a wide range of diseases must be considered and carefully ruled out, given the overlap in their symptoms. Detailed knowledge of the differential diagnoses of acute appendicitis is particularly important in the treatment of patients with acute surgical abdomen, as it ensures better results and minimizes the risks of misdiagnosis.