  Real-world cellular invasion processes often take place in curved geometries.
Such problems are frequently simplified in models to neglect the curved
geometry in favour of computational simplicity, yet doing so risks inaccuracy
in any model-based predictions. To quantify the conditions under which
neglecting a curved geometry are justifiable, we examined solutions to the
Fisher-Kolmogorov-Petrovsky-Piskunov (Fisher-KPP) model, a paradigm nonlinear
reaction-diffusion equation typically used to model spatial invasion, on an
annular geometry. Defining $\epsilon$ as the ratio of the annulus thickness
$\delta$ and radius $r_0$ we derive, through an asymptotic expansion, the
conditions under which it is appropriate to ignore the domain curvature, a
result that generalises to other reaction-diffusion equations with constant
diffusion coefficient. We further characterise the nature of the solutions
through numerical simulation for different $r_0$ and $\delta$. Thus, we
quantify the size of the deviation from an analogous simulation on the
rectangle, and how this deviation changes across the width of the annulus. Our
results grant insight into when it is appropriate to neglect the domain
curvature in studying travelling wave behaviour in reaction-diffusion
equations.
