Acute appendicitis: US evaluation using graded compression.
Ultrasound (US) examination during graded compression was performed in 60 consecutive patients with clinical signs of acute appendicitis. In 25 (89%) of 28 patients with confirmed appendicitis, the inflamed appendix was visualized by US. Perforation was predictable in six of seven patients. In 32 patients without appendicitis, the appendix was not visualized. Graded-compression US is the examination of choice if there is doubt whether an appendectomy should be performed.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*