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Evaluation of a low-dose CT protocol with oral contrast for assessment of acute appendicitis

2008; Springer Science+Business Media; Volume: 19; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/s00330-008-1164-x

1432-1084

Alexandra Platon, Helmi Jlassi, Olivier Rutschmann, Christoph Becker, Francis R. Verdun, Pascal Gervaz, Pierre‐Alexandre Poletti,

Diverticular Disease and Complications

The aim of this study was to evaluate a low-dose CT with oral contrast medium (LDCT) for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and compare its performance with standard-dose i.v. contrast-enhanced CT (standard CT) according to patients' BMIs. Eighty-six consecutive patients admitted with suspicion of acute appendicitis underwent LDCT (30 mAs), followed by standard CT (180 mAs). Both examinations were reviewed by two experienced radiologists for direct and indirect signs of appendicitis. Clinical and surgical follow-up was considered as the reference standard. Appendicitis was confirmed by surgery in 37 (43%) of the 86 patients. Twenty-nine (34%) patients eventually had an alternative discharge diagnosis to explain their abdominal pain. Clinical and biological follow-up was uneventful in 20 (23%) patients. LDCT and standard CT had the same sensitivity (100%, 33/33) and specificity (98%, 45/46) to diagnose appendicitis in patients with a body mass index (BMI) >or= 18.5. In slim patients (BMI or= 18.5.