Saline-filled appendiceal ultrasonography in clinically equivocalacute appendicitis

Background: To establish the value of saline-filled appendiceal ultrasonography in the the diagnosis of clinically equivocal acute appendicitis. Methods: Saline-filled ultrasonography was performed in 43 patients with an equivocal clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Results: Sonography diagnosed 31 of 32 patients without acute appendicitis (97%). A normal appendix was visualized in 15 patients (47%), and we identified a normal appendix in 15 of 22 patients (68%) in whom the colon was cleansed with Golytely?. Sonography diagnosed 10 of 11 patients with acute appendicitis (91%). In three of 10 patients, the findings corresponded to sonographic pitfalls. Conclusion: Saline-filled appendiceal ultrasonography enables the detection of a normal appendix and may overcome sonographic pitfalls in acute appendicitis. Received: 2 June 1995/Accepted: 18 July 1995     

Sonography of acute appendicitis in childhood: perforation versus nonperforation.

We evaluated the sonographic findings in 133 consecutive children referred for suspected appendicitis. Fifty-eight of these patients (44%) ultimately underwent surgery, with 54 of these proved to have acute appendicitis. Thirty-one (58%) of the 54 had nonperforated appendicitis, and 23 (43%) had evidence of perforation. Previously described sonographic findings that have been employed in the diagnosis of appendicitis were evaluated, with the presence or absence of these findings being compared in patients with non-perforated and perforated appendicitis. In those patients who did not undergo surgery, the following findings were documented and compared to the findings in patients with proved appendicitis: (1) an identifiable appendix and its sonographic characteristics, (2) fluid localized to the right peritoneal reflection or periappendiceal region, or both, (3) free pelvic fluid, and (4) right lower quadrant adenopathy. Our results suggest that high-resolution, real-time sonography, using graded compression, is very sensitive in the identification of acute nonperforated appendicitis. Perforated appendicitis, however, can be a more difficult diagnosis because the appendix frequently decompresses with perforation and yet may not "wall off" or form a well-defined abscess. As a result, the appendix can be very difficult to identify.     

Acute appendicitis mimicking infectious enteritis: diagnostic value of sonography.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the role of sonography in screening of acute appendicitis in patients admitted to an infectious disease unit for suspected acute infectious enteritis. METHODS: One hundred eighty consecutive patients (102 male and 78 female; age range, 5-72 years; mean age, 31 years) admitted for suspected infectious enteritis or typhoid fever were prospectively studied with abdominal sonography within 48 hours after admission. None of the patients had peritoneal irritation. Forty-six patients (25%) had white blood cell counts of more than 10,000/mm3 (range, 10,300-18,000/mm3). The diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made when a detectable appendix with an anteroposterior diameter of greater than 7 mm could be seen on sonography. RESULTS: Eleven (6%) of 180 patients had thickened appendixes (anteroposterior diameter range, 7-14 mm); 2 of them had periappendiceal abscesses. Four (36%) of 11 patients with acute appendicitis had high white blood cell counts. All sonographic diagnoses of acute appendicitis and periappendiceal abscesses were confirmed at surgery. Sonography ruled out acute appendicitis in 169 patients. In all of them, clinical and sonographic follow-up excluded the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Normal appendixes were shown on sonography in 38 (22%) of 169 cases and were not detectable in 131 (78%) of 169. CONCLUSIONS: Sonography of the appendix is a useful method for early assessment of acute appendicitis in patients thought to have enteritis or typhoid fever.     

Acute appendicitis confined to the appendiceal tip: evaluation with graded compression sonography.

Focal appendicitis at the tip of the appendix has not been emphasized in the sonographic literature. We present the sonographic findings in four patients with pathologically confirmed acute appendicitis confined to the appendiceal tip. In all four patients, the base of the appendix had a normal appearance with maximal outer diameters measuring 4 to 6 mm. However, the inflamed tip was focally enlarged, measuring greater than 7 mm. The importance of a careful survey of the entire length of the appendix is emphasized to avoid a false-negative examination.     

Sonography of acute appendicitis in pregnancy

Background: Clinical evaluation of acute appendicitis is difficult in pregnant patients. Delay in diagnosis is associated with increased fetal mortality. The purpose of our study was to assess the value of sonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnant women. Methods: We obtained sonograms in 22 pregnant women suspected of acute appendicitis. All sonograms were performed using graded-compression to detect an enlarged appendix. The sonographic criteria for acute appendicitis were detection of a noncompressible blindended and tubular multilayered structure of maximal diameter greater than 6 mm. Results: The sonographic findings were correlated with surgical findings in seven cases and clinical follow-up in 15 cases. Acute appendicitis was diagnosed by sonography in three of 22 patients, and in all but one was confirmed by surgical and pathologic findings. In the remaining 19 patients, 15 improved on clinical follow-up; three were shown to have a normal appendix at surgery and one had focal acute inflammation at the tip of the appendix. Conclusions: Our experience suggests that graded-compression sonography is a useful procedure in pregnant patients suspected of acute appendicitis and has a similar accuracy as in nonpregnant women, especially in the first and second trimester.     

Transvaginal sonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate transvaginal sonography with power Doppler capacity in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and in discriminating appendicitis from pelvic inflammatory disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We describe transvaginal sonographic findings of six women with acute appendicitis selected from 31 women seen in an emergency room setting for clinically suspected pelvic inflammatory disease. The study population underwent gray-scale transvaginal sonography, and specific sonographic landmark findings for acute appendicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease were used. Hyperemia of any infectious complex was identified by power Doppler. Laparoscopy was performed after transvaginal sonography and was used as the gold standard. RESULTS: Laparoscopy showed acute appendicitis in six (19%) of the 31 patients. A thick walled non-compressible gas-containing tubular structure with a diameter exceeding 6 mm was seen by transvaginal sonography in four of the six cases, consistent with uncomplicated appendicitis. A heterogeneous complex with surrounding hyperechogenic soft tissue was seen in two cases with gangrenous appendicitis. Power Doppler detected hyperemia in all six cases. Normal adnexal structures were imaged next to the inflamed appendix. The sonographic criteria consistent with acute appendicitis were clearly different from those of acute pelvic inflammatory disease. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal sonography provides an opportunity to distinguish between appendicitis and acute pelvic inflammatory disease. Prospective trials are needed in order to evaluate the impact of transvaginal sonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.     

Transient appendiceal enlargement in a patient with colonic amebiasis: sonographic detection and follow-up

A case of colonic amebiasis with no clinical signs of acute appendicitis but with sonographic visualization of an enlarged appendix is reported. As antiamebic therapy resolved the clinical signs and symptoms of the amebiasis, the sonographic appearance of the appendix returned to normal. Thus, an enlarged appendix does not necessarily indicate clinical appendicitis in patients with colonic amebiasis.     

Sonography in the Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the negative predictive value (NPV) of sonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods. Right lower quadrant sonograms of 193 patients (158 female and 35 male; age range, 3–20 years) with suspected acute appendicitis over a 1‐year period were retrospectively reviewed. Sonographic findings were graded on a 5‐point scale, ranging from a normal appendix identified (grade 1) to frankly acute appendicitis (grade 5). Sonographic findings were compared with subsequent computed tomographic (CT), surgical, and pathologic findings. The diagnostic accuracy of sonography was assessed considering surgical findings and clinical follow‐up as reference standards. Results. Forty‐nine patients (25.4%) had appendicitis on sonography, and 144 (74.6%) had negative sonographic findings. Computed tomographic scans were obtained in 51 patients (26.4%) within 4 days after sonography. These included 39 patients with negative and 12 with positive sonographic findings. Computed tomography changed the sonographic diagnosis in 10 patients: from negative to positive in 3 cases and positive to negative in 7. Forty‐three patients (22.2%) underwent surgery. The surgical findings were positive for appendicitis in 37 (86%) of the 43 patients who had surgery. Patients with negative sonographic findings who, to our knowledge, did not have subsequent CT scans or surgery were considered to have negative findings for appendicitis. Seven patients with negative sonographic findings underwent surgery and had appendicitis; therefore, 137 of 144 patients with negative sonographic findings did not have appendicitis. On the basis of these numbers, the NPV was 95.1%. Conclusions. Sonography has a high NPV and should be considered as a reasonable screening tool in the evaluation of acute appendicitis. Further imaging could be performed if clinical signs and symptoms worsen.     

Sonography and computed tomography of the mimics of appendicitis

There are numerous entities that can mimic acute appendicitis. Ultrasound and computed tomography are the most common first-line, cross-sectional imaging modalities in the acute care setting. Ideally, imaging will either confirm appendicitis or exclude it by identifying a normal appendix. In the latter scenario, an alternate diagnosis can frequently be established that range from genitourinary, gastrointestinal, to even abdominal wall processes. Imaging is especially helpful in cases of patients presenting with atypical signs/symptoms for acute appendicitis and those presenting with a classic presentation where an alternative diagnosis is determined. The correct diagnosis will allow the most appropriate clinical management and therapy; specifically, avoiding nonindicated surgery is essential. Common and uncommon mimics of acute appendicitis are discussed with specific attention to their sonographic and computed tomographic appearances.     

重视正常阑尾CT影像对鉴别急性阑尾炎的价值

目的：重视正常阑尾的CT影像表现,减少对急性阑尾炎的漏诊、误诊。方法：收集我院2010—09—2011-06行全腹部CT287例寻找正常阑尾,并进行MPR图像重建,同时收集我院经手术病理证实为急性阑尾炎18例,并进行回顾分析。结果：①287例中有26l例可发现正常阑尾（90．9％）。②急性阑尾炎18例,术前CT误诊10例：其中单纯急性阑尾炎1例漏诊,误诊为回盲部肿瘤4例、小肠肿瘤3例、右下腹附件炎性肿块2例。通过四顺分析误诊主要原因是未能充分认识正常阑尾影像表现。结论：多排螺旋CT晁示阑尾率高,掌握正常阑尾影像表现,有助于提高急性阑尾炎的诊断。     

急性阑尾炎术前超声定位的临床应用及其价值

目的 探讨急性阑尾炎术前超声定位和体表标记法的临床应用及其价值。方法 选取68例经超声检查已明确显示病变阑尾的患者，在超声观察下用防水色笔描记阑尾在腹壁相应体表投影的整体形态，手术切口3cm限定于阑尾的体表投影处，将超声定位结果与手术病理检查结果相比较。结果 超声诊断急性阑尾炎68例，术前超声对病变阑尾的定位均与手术所见相符，其中阑尾盆位14例，盲肠下位13例，盲肠后位11例，回盲前位14例，回盲后位11例，异位阑尾5例。术前超声定位使阑尾切除手术操作方便，明显缩短了术中寻找阑尾的时间，患者出血少，术后恢复快。结论 术前超声定位为症状典型和非典型急性阑尾炎诊断及外科处理提供了客观的影像依据，有助于手术医师在阑尾切除术中快速找到阑尾顺利完成手术。     

Granulomatous appendicitis presenting as right lower quadrant pain: CT findings

Background: We present the computed tomographic (CT) findings of granulomatous appendicitis. Methods: Five of 652 (0.9%) patients who had undergone appendectomy for clinically suspected acute appendicitis over a 19-month period proved to have granulomatous appendicitis. One patient had surgery based on a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Four patients (three men and one woman; age range = 14–39 years) underwent abdominal CT. The CT findings were retrospectively reviewed with special attention to the appendiceal abnormalities. Results: All four patients presented with subacute clinical presentation. Enlarged appendices of 4.5 and 2 cm in diameter with thickened walls of soft tissue density were found in two patients, and periappendicular inflammatory masses were found in the other two. Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes and right lower quadrant fat stranding was seen in all four patients. Histopathology showed numerous granulomas within the inflamed appendix. Conclusion: Radiologists should be familiar with the rare entity of granulomatous appendicitis in patients examined by CT for suspected acute appendicitis. An insidious clinical presentation with CT findings of an exceptionally large appendix and associated periappendiceal inflammatory changes should raise the possibility of granulomatous appendicitis or carcinoma or lymphoma of the appendix.     

Anatomic basis for delayed diagnosis of appendicitis

Gangrene or perforation of the appendix is often caused by failure to make an early diagnosis of appendicitis. Variability in the anatomic location of the appendix can be responsible for atypical manifestations of appendicitis and diagnostic errors. Over a 52-month period, 125 appendectomies were done for suspected appendicitis at a military hospital. After excluding cases in which the location of the appendix was not provided, 106 cases were available for review. Fifteen patients (14%) did not have appendicitis. The appendix was found in the true pelvis, was behind the ileum or ileocolic mesentery, or was both retrocolic and retroperitoneal in 11 of 16 patients (69%) with gangrenous or perforative appendicitis. In contrast, the appendix was in one of these three sites in only four of 75 patients (5%) with simple appendicitis (P less than .001). Both physicians and patients were responsible for diagnostic delays, but the paucity of symptoms and signs in patients with a "hidden" appendix was the most likely cause of failure to diagnose appendicitis before perforation.     

48例不典型急性阑尾炎的ct诊断价值

目的:探讨不典型急性阑尾炎的CT诊断价值.材料与方法:对48例不典型急性阑尾炎的病人行多层螺旋CT检查分析,并与手术病理对照.结果:48例不典型急性阑尾炎的病人CT征象有:45例阑尾显示异常.表现为阑尾局部肿胀,阑尾壁增粗,增粗阑尾管腔呈实性状.肿胀阑尾境界不清,伴有回盲部的炎性渗出,有的伴有阑尾壁为不同密度分层的同心圆改变,回盲部软组织肿,呈斑点状或条纹状密度增高改变.螺旋CT对不典型急性阑尾炎诊断准确率为93.75％.结论:螺旋CT检查是目前诊断不典型急性阑尾炎的较佳方法.     

应用3.5 MHz探头诊断急性阑尾炎

目的 探讨应用3.5MHz探头诊断急性阑尾炎的方法和临床价值。方法 分析15年来随着超声医师对盲肠和阑尾解剖结构及声像图特征认识的深化、扫查技术的改进，使急性阑尾炎的诊断水平不断提高。本组120例B超诊断经手术病理证实的急性阑尾炎病例作为分析研究的对象。结果 早期（1986-1993）抽取35例，超声诊断率为71.4%；近期（1993-2002年10月）病例抽取85例，超声诊断率为91.5%，两有显性差异。结论 正确认识盲肠与阑尾声像图特征是诊断急性阑尾炎的关键所在，普通超声诊断仪用3.5MHz探头能用于急性阑尾炎的诊断，为临床提供可靠的依据。     

Hyperdense appendix on unenhanced CT: a sign of acute appendicitis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of the hyperdense appendix in acute appendicitis. The CT scans of 183 patients with pathologically proven acute appendicitis were reviewed to determine the prevalence of a hyperdense appendix, defined as a high-attenuated appendix when compared with the adjacent cecal wall on precontrast CT. A control group consisted of 100 patients with CT examinations performed in the emergency department were also randomly allocated to search for any hyperdense appendix in other disease conditions. The images were reviewed by two radiologists who reached a decision by consensus. A hyperdense appendix sign was found in 61 of 183 (33%) patients, including 92 men and 91 women ranging in age from 17 to 85 years (mean 37 years). On the other hand, the sign was seen in only two (2%) of the 88 patients in whom appendicitis was not diagnosed. The hyperdense appendix sign on unenhanced CT is seen in about 33% of patients with acute appendicitis. The false-positive rate is very low, rendering it a very useful sign for diagnosis of acute appendicitis.     

Preoperative diagnostic role of hyperbilirubinaemia as a marker of appendix perforation

This retrospective study investigated preoperative markers of appendix perforation in 351 acute appendicitis cases: group 1, appendicitis not histologically confirmed; group 2, appendicitis without perforation or gangrenous changes; and group 3, histologically confirmed perforated appendicitis with gangrenous changes. In group 3, symptom duration was significantly longer, and white blood cell (WBC) and bilirubin values significantly higher, than for the other groups. Symptom duration, gender, bilirubin and elevated WBC were significantly associated with early diagnosis of acute appendicitis in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis identified increased WBC counts and male gender as independent variables for the early diagnosis of acute suppurative appendicitis, and symptom duration, total bilirubin and elevated WBC as independent variables for identifying appendix perforation amongst acute suppurative appendicitis patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed good discrimination of bilirubin and moderate discrimination of WBC as markers of appendix perforation. It is concluded that assessment of preoperative total bilirubin is useful for the differential diagnosis of perforated versus acute suppurative appendicitis, whereas WBC assessment is effective for diagnosing the presence versus absence of appendicitis. Symptom duration, WBC and total bilirubin should be used as independent parameters in the early diagnosis of appendix perforation.     

Amyand hernia: a case of an unusual inguinal herniace

Amyand hernia, named for the first person to describe an inguinal hernia containing the vermiform appendix, is an uncommon variant of an inguinal hernia. Presence of the appendix in the sac complicates the management of inguinal hernias. The appendix may be more prone to rupture when contained within a hernia sac, and herniation of an inflamed appendix into the scrotum can mimic an acute scrotum. A 50-year-old man presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain associated with chills and anorexia. Physical examination revealed right lower quadrant tenderness and a right inguinal mass without associated skin changes. Laboratories were normal. A plain abdominal computed tomography scan for acute appendicitis showed an indirect right inguinal hernia with the appendix contained within the sac, which was incarcerated. Surgical consultation was obtained. The patient taken to the operating room, and his appendix was removed. The hernia was coincidentally repaired, and the patient was discharged soon thereafter. In cases suggestive of acute appendicitis complicating an inguinal hernia, the diagnosis of this unusual variant must be considered.     

多层螺旋CT多平面重建技术在阑尾炎诊断中的应用

目的 探讨多层螺旋CT多平面重建技术诊断急性阑尾炎的临床价值。 方法 搜集55例临床拟诊急性阑尾炎的病例,采用16层螺旋CT进行扫描及多平面容积重组图像后处理,总结分析其CT表现,比较重建图像与未重建图像在急性阑尾炎诊断中的各种征象显示率。 结果 55例拟诊断为急性阑尾炎的患者手术病理确诊50例,右侧卵巢囊肿1例,右侧输尿管下段结石1例,胆囊炎1例,结肠肿瘤1例,盆腔炎1例。重建后的阑尾全程显示率（100% vs 80%）、管壁增厚显示率（92% vs 70%）以及回盲部肠壁增厚显示率(50% vs 26%)均高于未重建图像,且差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论 多排螺旋CT结合多平面重建技术能使急性阑尾炎的诊断准确性明显提高,对阑尾炎以及其他病变的诊断快速、准确,值得临床应用。       

Acute appendicitis and diagnostic value of sonography: A prospective study of 77 surgically proven cases

We present the results of a prospective study on 122 patients referred for suspected acute appendicitis. In total, 77 patients had surgically proven appendicitis. Of these 77 patients, sonography showed typical signs of appendicitis and/or peri-appendicular abscess in 57 cases (true positives); in the remaining 20 patients neither the inflamed appendix nor any related abnormal finding could be detected pre-operatively (false negatives). Forty-five patients were subsequently shown to have other disorders (related to the urinary or digestive tract, or to the female reproductive system); the final diagnoses were based on surgical findings in 16 patients, and on a combination of clinical, imaging and laboratory findings in the remaining 29 patients. In all these patients, no sonographic evidence of appendicitis was detected (true negatives), whereas in 33 cases the US exam was able to detect abnormal findings related to other conditions, thus suggesting a correct diagnosis. In the authors' experience, sonography has a good accuracy in diagnosing acute appendicitis. The sensitivity (75%) and specificity (100%) values were similar among the different examiners and in overall agreement with the literature data.