Abstract

Vermiform appendix (VA) is frequently associated with anatomical variations. However, there remains a contradiction in determining the most prevalent positions of VA despite numerous previous studies. This systematic review examined nine postmortem studies that explored anatomical positions of VA. A comprehensive search was conducted in databases including Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, and Scopus. Only English-language articles published between January 2013 and December 2022 were considered. The process involved study selection, data extraction, and aggregating the findings. The literature identifies eight distinct types of appendicular positions: retrocecal, pelvic, subcecal, preileal, subileal or promontory, subhepatic, and paracecal. Among these types, the most common are the pelvic and retrocecal positions, accounting for 38.3% and 34.3%, respectively. Subcecal and postileal positions are less prevalent, with rates of 10.4% and 9.5%, respectively. The remaining types, including subileal/promontory, paracecal, preileal, subhepatic, and others, have prevalence rates of 2.9%, 2.1%, 1.4%, and 1.1%, respectively. Overall, males exhibit a higher incidence of these appendicular positions compared to females. Among postmortem studies, the pelvic position is the most common, representing 38.3% of cases. However, there are no clear theories explaining the differences in VA position between sexes. This study aims to discuss previous research findings on VA morphology and establish terminology for describing its common positions in humans.

Key words: Vermiform appendix, morphological appraisal, cadaveric review.