The pathological changes occurring in a series of 1000 consecutive appendicectomies are reviewed. Normal appendix was diagnosed in 14% of cases, while 561 (56%) exhibited acute appendicitis; 53 (5%) had chronic inflammatory infiltrate associated with obliteration of the lumen of the tip of the appendix. Epithelial abnormalities included carcinoid tumours (1.4%), and primary appendiceal adenocarcinoma (1 case). There were a large variety of other abnormalities found and each one is briefly described.