title: Current concepts in imaging of appendicitis.
abstract: Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain requiring surgery. Early diagnosis is crucial to the success of therapy. CT and ultrasound are widely recognized as very useful in the timely diagnosis of appendicitis. MR imaging is emerging as an alternative to CT in pregnant patients and in patients who have an allergy to iodinated contrast material. This article reviews the current imaging methods and diagnostic features of appendicitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Ave., 1x57E, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Rybkin
authors.forename: Ruedi F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Thoeni
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001065:Appendix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*