title: Role of focused appendiceal computed tomography in clinically equivocal acute appendicitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy of FACT (focused appendiceal computed tomography) in evaluation of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, over a period of one year. Sixty-three patients with clinically equivocal acute appendicitis underwent thin-section non-enhanced helical CT. Axial scans were obtained in a single breath hold from L2 vertebral level to the pubic symphysis with 5-mm collimation and a pitch of 1.5. All scans were obtained without oral, intravenous, or rectal contrast material. Criteria for diagnosis of acute appendicitis included an enlarged appendix (>6 mm diameter) and periappendiceal inflammation. Final diagnoses were established with the results of surgical or clinical follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 21 true-positive diagnoses, 38 true-negative diagnoses, no false-positive diagnoses, and 2 false-negative diagnoses, which yielded a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-enhanced FACT is a highly accurate problem solving technique in clinically equivocal cases of acute appendicitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Kashif
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Vaqar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.forename: Muhammad Zafar
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Rafique
authors.forename: Muhammad Uzair
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.forename: Ishtiaq
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chisti
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards