title: Comparison of combined oral and i.v. contrast-enhanced versus single i.v. contrast-enhanced mdct for the detection of acute appendicitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to compare the diagnostic ability of oral added intravenous (IV) contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) versus only IV contrast-enhanced MDCT in diagnosing of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  MDCT images of 200 patients were evaluated prospectively in this study. Patients were randomized into one of two groups: Group 1 (Gp1) patients underwent 16-MDCT performed with oral and IV contrast-enhanced and Group 2 (Gp2) subjects underwent 16-MDCT with only IV contrast-enhanced protocol. Final decision was based on histopathologic operative data and follow-up of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Gp1, Reader1 had 96.9% and 98.5% and Reader2 had 84% and 94.7% sensitivity and specificity values respectively. For Gp2, the values for Reader1 were 81% and 94%. For Reader2 in Gp2, the values were 76% and 91%. We achieved higher sensitivity and specificity values with combined contrast administration versus only IV contrast-enhanced MDCT imaging. However, there was no statistically significant differences between two readers in the AUC values of each group for the detection of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is statistically concluded that oral contrast do not contribute to the a better accuracy. So in the routine practice, oral contrast has not to be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Baskent University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. korayhekim@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hekimoglu
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coskun
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007483:Iothalamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007483:Iothalamic Acid; C002587:ioxitalamic acid