Suppurative Appendicitis at 40x Magnification
In rare instances, appendicitis can heal on its own without surgery. This uncommon occurrence is usually associated with antibiotic use, especially among the elderly. The condition may not even come to the attention of a medical practitioner until scar tissue formed during healing becomes observable as a lump in the lower right-hand side of the abdomen, which can be confused with a tumor. The rarity of self-healing from appendicitis, however, along with the significant possibility of infection spreading from a burst appendix, suggests that individuals experiencing symptoms of the condition should seek professional help as soon as possible.