Appendicitis in children. Accuracy of the barium enema.
The barium enema (BE) may be useful in the diagnosis of atypical appendicitis in children. We analyzed our experience with 18 children in whom appendicitis was suspected and BE was performed. All of the children underwent surgical exploration. Nonfilling of the appendix with cecal indentation, extravasation of barium from the appendix, or both, were considered positive signs of an inflamed appendix on BE. Using these criteria, 12 of 14 cases of proved appendicitis were true positive and two were equivocal. Four children were proved not to have appendicitis; one of these patients had a true-negative BE, two had equivocal BEs, and there was one false-positive BE (Schönlein-Henoch purpura). Extravasation of barium into the peritoneal cavity was noted in one patient; this was a rare complication.
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center.
C
C
Garcia
N S
NS
Rosenfield
R I
RI
Markowitz
J H
JH
Seashore
R J
RJ
Touloukian
D V
DV
Cicchetti
D000293:Adolescent; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001065:Appendix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002432:Cecum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004733:Enema; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011859:Radiography
D001466:Barium Sulfate