Diagnostic Accuracy of Per-Rectal Examination in Acute Appendicitis: Correlation with Anatomical Appendix Type

The anatomical nature of the appendix is one element that affects the difficulty of an appendectomy. Traditionally, a per-Rectal examination is performed on every patient who presents with acute stomach pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the per-rectal examination’s diagnostic accuracy in cases of acute appendicitis and its utility in identifying the type of appendicitis. We examined the association between appendix types and positive per-rectal examination findings in patients with acute appendicitis at our facility between April and November 2025. The study investigated the relationship between appendix types and positive per-rectal examination findings among patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis at our institution. A total of 132 patients were included in the study, of whom 63 were male. The mean age at diagnosis was 30.38 years for males and 37.95 years for females. Per-rectal examinations were performed in 105 patients (79.58%). The pelvic appendix was the most common type observed during surgery. The diagnostic accuracy of per-rectal examination for acute appendicitis and pelvic-type appendicitis was 52.3% and 49%, respectively, with low sensitivity and specificity. The study demonstrated that the per-rectal examination, as a clinical diagnostic tool, has low sensitivity and specificity. It should not be relied upon as a consistent method for diagnosing or predicting the type of acute appendicitis.