title: [Appendicitis in childhood].
abstract: From 1989 to 1995 high-resolution ultrasonography (US) was performed in 3,546 children (age: 1-17 years) with clinically suspected appendicitis. A total of 518 patients underwent laparotomy; 420 had histologically proven acute or perforated appendicitis (prevalence 11.8%). In these children, the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of US examination were 90%, 97% and 96% respectively. The use of US in clinically doubtful acute abdomen may allow earlier diagnosis of acute appendicitis; in 1995 the rate of unnecessary appendectomy was reduced to 13%.
authors.affiliation: Kinderklinik de TU, Kinderklinik München-Schwabing.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Höpner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Kalle
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prantl
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Färber
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography