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Added value of ultrasound re-evaluation for patients with equivocal CT findings of acute appendicitis: a preliminary study

  • Gastrointestinal
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Abstract

Purpose

To prospectively estimate the additional diagnostic value of ultrasound (US) re-evaluation for patients with equivocal computed tomography (CT) findings of acute appendicitis.

Methods

Between April 2011 and October 2011, 869 consecutive patients with suspected appendicitis who were referred for CT were included. The likelihood of appendicitis was prospectively categorized into five categories. US re-evaluation was recommended for patients in the ‘equivocal appendix’ and ‘probably not appendicitis’ groups. The overall negative appendectomy rate during the study period was compared with the rate of the previous year, and negative appendectomy rates of the US and non-US evaluation groups were also compared.

Results

Among 869 patients, 71 (8.2 %) had equivocal appendicitis findings and 63 (7.2 %) were diagnosed as probably not appendicitis. The sensitivity and specificity of CT combined with US re-evaluation group (100 % and 98.1 %, respectively) exceeded those of the CT alone group (93 % and 99 %; equivocal group considered as negative appendicitis, 100 % and 89.9 %; as positive, respectively, P < 0.0001). After adding US re-evaluation, the overall negative appendectomy rate in our institution decreased from 3.4 to 2.3 %.

Conclusion

For patients with equivocal CT findings of acute appendicitis, US re-evaluation can improve diagnostic accuracy and decrease the rate of negative appendectomies.

Key Points

• Misdiagnosis of appendicitis still occurs, especially in patients with equivocal radiological findings.

• The sensitivity and specificity of CT followed by US exceeded those of CT alone.

• After US re-evaluation, the negative appendectomy rate decreased from 3.4 to 2.3 %.

• US re-evaluation in equivocal cases helps diagnostic confidence and further management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Daejin Medical Center Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital, 255-2, Seohyun-dong, Bundang-gu, Sungnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-774, Republic of Korea

    Ji Ye Sim, Hyuk Jung Kim & Jae Woo Yeon

  2. Department of Surgery, Daejin Medical Center Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Sungnam-si, Republic of Korea

    Byoung Sun Suh & Ki Ho Kim

  3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Daejin Medical Center Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Sungnam-si, Republic of Korea

    Young Rock Ha

  4. Department of Pathology, Daejin Medical Center Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Sungnam-si, Republic of Korea

    So Ya Paik

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  1. Ji Ye Sim
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  2. Hyuk Jung Kim
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  3. Jae Woo Yeon
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  5. Ki Ho Kim
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Correspondence to Hyuk Jung Kim.

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Sim, J.Y., Kim, H.J., Yeon, J.W. et al. Added value of ultrasound re-evaluation for patients with equivocal CT findings of acute appendicitis: a preliminary study. Eur Radiol 23, 1882–1890 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-2769-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-2769-2

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