title: [Complementary tests in acute appendicitis].
abstract: The incidence of appendicectomy is high in France and this operation is performed in 15 to 45% of the cases for a histologically normal appendix. White blood cell count has a very good sensitivity but a bad specificity. The same observation goes for plain abdominal X-rays, the use of while must be limited in children and young women. Barium enema, frequently performed in anglo-saxon countries, show in 90 to 100% of the cases an abnormal image of the caecum or a lack of visualisation of the appendix. Ultrasounds visualize the appendix with a good sensitivity, provided there is no perforation. Laparoscopy is a good diagnostic tool, but must not be considered as a routine procedure. Studies of diagnosis scores show that, except for the white blood cell count, biological and radiological investigations are particularly interesting to eliminate another pathology.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie générale et digestive, Hôtel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chipponi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pezet
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Les examens complémentaires dans les appendicites aiguës.