title: MDCT for suspected appendicitis in the elderly: diagnostic performance and patient outcome.
abstract: Elderly adults are at increased risk for complications related to both delayed diagnosis of appendicitis and to unnecessary appendectomy. We assessed the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT) in a consecutive elderly cohort with clinically suspected appendicitis. CT findings and clinical outcomes were analyzed for 262 consecutive adult patients age 65 and older (mean 75.6 ± 7.5 years; range 65-94; M/F 111:151) referred for clinically suspected appendicitis at a single medical center between January 2000 and December 2009. The overall prevalence of proven acute appendicitis in this elderly cohort with clinically suspected appendicitis was 16.8% (44/262). CT sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for acute appendicitis were 100% (44/44), 99.1% (216/218), 95.7% (44/46), and 100.0% (216/216), respectively. The negative appendectomy rate was 2.3% (1/43). The perforation rate was 40.9% (18/44). There were no false-negative and two false-positive CT interpretations. All patients with appendicitis suspected on CT were hospitalized (44/44), with an average stay of 5.7 ± 3.2 days, and 93.5% (43/46) underwent appendectomy. Overall surgical complication rate was 34.9% (15/43). Compared with younger adults over the same period, elderly patients had higher rates of perforation and surgical complications, and longer hospital stays (p < 0.003). CT is highly accurate for the evaluation of clinically suspected appendicitis in elderly patients. Prompt diagnosis is important given the higher rates perforation and surgical complications relative to younger adults.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Clinical Science Center, Madison, WI 53792-3252, USA.
authors: B Dustin
authors: BD
authors: Pooler
authors: Edward M
authors: EM
authors: Lawrence
authors: Perry J
authors: PJ
authors: Pickhardt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*