Appendicitis: should diagnostic imaging be performed if the clinical presentation is highly suggestive of the disease?
Gastroenterology
; 123(4): 992-8, 2002 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12360459
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Our aim was to investigate whether diagnostic imaging is required if the clinical presentation suggests acute appendicitis with high probability. METHODS: On the basis of clinical findings, 350 consecutive patients with clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis were prospectively divided into 3 groups as follows: low, intermediate, and high probability of having appendicitis. All patients then underwent diagnostic ultrasonography. The clinical likelihood of appendicitis and the ultrasonographic results were correlated with the definite diagnoses. RESULTS: In the patients with clinically low probability of having appendicitis, appendicitis was present in 10% (11 of 109 patients), and, in those with intermediate probability, appendicitis was present in 24% (23 of 97 patients). Patients with clinically high probability of having appendicitis had appendicitis in 65% (94 of 144 patients), an alternative diagnosis in 18% (26 of 144 patients), and no specific definitive diagnosis in 17% (24 of 144 patients). Ultrasonography diagnosed appendicitis and the differential diagnoses with a sensitivity of 98% and 97%, specificity of 98% and 100%, positive predictive value of 96% and 99%, negative predictive values of 99% and 99%, and accuracy of 98% and 99%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Even in patients with clinically high probability of acute appendicitis, diagnostic imaging should be performed because it accurately depicts a high percentage of normal appendices and differential diagnoses.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Apendicitis
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Gastroenterology
Año:
2002
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Austria
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos