title: Negative appendix with suspected appendicitis: an update.
abstract: We report a retrospective study of 282 consecutive patients who had appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center during a 15-month period. The overall incidence of negative explorations of 7.4% was significantly lower than that reported in the literature, and occurred without a significant increase in the incidence of perforation (22%). Since no sophisticated diagnostic tests were used, we suggest that a decrease in the presently accepted negative exploration rate of 15% to 20% can be achieved on the basis of a careful history, detailed physical examination, and basic laboratory and x-ray studies.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies