title: Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess our results of using graded compression ultrasonography (US) to confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Graded compression US was performed on 94 patients who presented at the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, Pennsylvania with an equivocal clinical picture of acute appendicitis. When used to diagnose acute appendicitis, US provided a specificity of 93.7%, sensitivity of 74.2%, and accuracy of 87.2%. We conclude that graded compression US was useful to rule out the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and helped to avoid unnecessary appendectomies and reduced negative laparotomies. Our results proved to be comparable to previously reported studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Zeidan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wasser
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nicholas
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography