Saline-filled appendiceal ultrasonography in clinically equivocal acute 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(R). Sonography diagnosed 10 of 11 patients with acute appendicitis (91%). In three of 10 patients, the findings corresponded to sonographic pitfalls.


CONCLUSIONS
Saline-filled appendiceal ultrasonography enables the detection of a normal appendix and may overcome sonographic pitfalls in acute appendicitis.
Cha
S H
SH
Department of Radiology, An San Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, #516 Ko Jan Dong, An San City, Kyung Ki Do 425-020, Korea.
Kim
S H
SH
Lee
E S
ES
Park
C M
CM
Cha
I H
IH
Kim
J H
JH
Chung
K B
KB
Suh
W H
WH
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004573:Electrolytes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012996:Solutions; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D004573:Electrolytes; C033608:Golytely; D012996:Solutions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012965:Sodium Chloride