title: MDCT diagnosis of appendicitis using only coronal reformations.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of diagnosing appendicitis based on coronal reformations without the aid of transverse images. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans of 53 patients (27 with appendicitis and 26 without appendicitis) were reviewed. All scans were obtained using a four-slice multi-detector row CT. The radiologists were not aware of the final diagnosis. Cases were reviewed for the visualization of the appendix and presence of appendicitis. All images were reviewed on picture archiving and communication systems. There were no false positives for diagnosing appendicitis when using either the transverse or coronal reformations. Appendicitis was not seen on the coronal images in one case, and there were no false negatives when transverse reformations alone were used. This difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.0001 for both modes of display). The sensitivity for diagnosing appendicitis based on the coronal images alone was 96%, the specificity was 100%, and the accuracy was 98%. Coronal reformations decreased the number of images reviewed by 19%. CT diagnosis of appendicitis based on the coronal images is accurate.
authors: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University--Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. Saint Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. v-yaghmai@northwestern.edu
authors: Vahid
authors: V
authors: Yaghmai
authors: Warren M
authors: WM
authors: Brandwein
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Hammond
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Nikolaidis
mesh_terms: D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001065:Appendix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D003626:Data Display; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007472:Iohexol; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D007472:Iohexol