Ultrasonography and computed tomography in patients with right lower quadrant pain: Difficult cases of appendicitis

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Authors: Adrienne van Randen, Wytze Laméris, Marja A Boermeester, Julien BCM Puylaert, et al.

Published Date April 2009 Volume 2009:2 Pages 41 - 47

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/RMI.S4745

Adrienne van Randen^1,2, Wytze Laméris^1,2, Marja A Boermeester², Julien BCM Puylaert³, Jaap Stoker¹

¹Department of Radiology; ²Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ³Department of Radiology, Westeinde Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands

Abstract: Acute appendicitis is a common cause of acute abdomen and both computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) are used in the diagnostic work-up of these patients. In general, imaging has high accuracy in diagnosing acute appendicitis. Although the imaging features of appendicitis are well known, in some patients findings are less conclusive. This pictorial essay will give an overview of difficult US and CT cases of patients suspected of acute appendicitis.

Keywords: acute appendicitis, ultrasonography, CT