title: ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Right Lower Quadrant Pain--Suspected Appendicitis.
abstract: The most common cause of acute right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain requiring surgery is acute appendicitis (AA). This narrative's focus is on imaging procedures in the diagnosis of AA, with consideration of other diseases causing RLQ pain. In general, Computed Tomography (CT) is the most accurate imaging study for evaluating suspected AA and alternative etiologies of RLQ pain. Data favor intravenous contrast use for CT, but the need for enteric contrast when intravenous contrast is used is not strongly favored. Radiation exposure concerns from CT have led to increased investigation in minimizing CT radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic accuracy and in using algorithms with ultrasound as a first imaging examination followed by CT in inconclusive cases. In children, ultrasound is the preferred initial examination, as it is nearly as accurate as CT for the diagnosis of AA in this population and without ionizing radiation exposure. In pregnant women, ultrasound is preferred initially with MRI as a second imaging examination in inconclusive cases, which is the majority.The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every three years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances where evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment.
authors.affiliation: *Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; †Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, New York; ‡Inland Imaging Associates and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; §Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia; ∥University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, American Gastroenterological Association; ¶University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin; #Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, American College of Surgeons; **Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; ††Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, Society of Nuclear Medicine; ‡‡Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, Society of Nuclear Medicine; §§Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; ∥∥University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; and ¶¶University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Tasneem
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lalani
authors.forename: Laura R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Carucci
authors.forename: Brooks D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Cash
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Piorkowski
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Stephanie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Spottswood
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tulchinsky
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yaghmai
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: Max P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001065:Appendix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States