Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Suspected Appendicitis in a Pediatric Population

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound (US) for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children. Patients and methods: We reviewed all sonograms for acute appendicitis in children suspected of having appendicitis from January 2009 to December 2012. Sonographic findings...

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Main Authors: Sornsupha Limchareon, Alisara Wongsuttilert, Adisorn Boonyarit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-12-01
Series:Journal of Medical Ultrasound
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929644114000459
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author Sornsupha Limchareon
Alisara Wongsuttilert
Adisorn Boonyarit
author_facet Sornsupha Limchareon
Alisara Wongsuttilert
Adisorn Boonyarit
author_sort Sornsupha Limchareon
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound (US) for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children. Patients and methods: We reviewed all sonograms for acute appendicitis in children suspected of having appendicitis from January 2009 to December 2012. Sonographic findings were positive when the largest axial diameters were >6 mm. The sonograms that were unable to find the appendix were classified into an other group and were considered separately. Sonographic findings were compared with surgical pathological findings or discharge diagnoses in cases of no surgery. Subgroup analysis in the surgical group, including patient age (<11 years or 11–16 years) and sex, was also performed. Results: The appendix was identified in 270/428 cases (63.1%). The overall sensitivity was 71.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 56.9–82.9%], specificity 97.7% (95% CI: 94.7–99.3%), positive predictive value 88.1% (95% CI: 74.4–96.0%), negative predictive value 93.4% (95% CI: 89.4–96.3%), accuracy 92.6%, and receiver operating characteristic = 0.84. The specificity (47.1%), negative predictive value (61.5%), and accuracy (76.3%) were significantly lower in the surgical group. The efficacy of US between the sexes and age groups showed no significant difference, except the lower positive predictive values in the younger age group. Conclusion: US efficacy for the diagnosis of appendicitis in children is high enough to use as an imaging modality of first choice to reduce complications, hospital stay, and negative appendectomy rate.
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spelling doaj.art-52e58b24ac3b4d1d86764018884a75e92022-12-22T00:55:51ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Medical Ultrasound0929-64412014-12-0122421321710.1016/j.jmu.2014.03.003Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Suspected Appendicitis in a Pediatric PopulationSornsupha Limchareon0Alisara Wongsuttilert1Adisorn Boonyarit2Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Burapha University, Chonburi, ThailandDivision of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Burapha University, Chonburi, ThailandDiagnostic Radiology Unit, Phyathai-Sriracha Hospital, Chonburi, ThailandThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound (US) for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children. Patients and methods: We reviewed all sonograms for acute appendicitis in children suspected of having appendicitis from January 2009 to December 2012. Sonographic findings were positive when the largest axial diameters were >6 mm. The sonograms that were unable to find the appendix were classified into an other group and were considered separately. Sonographic findings were compared with surgical pathological findings or discharge diagnoses in cases of no surgery. Subgroup analysis in the surgical group, including patient age (<11 years or 11–16 years) and sex, was also performed. Results: The appendix was identified in 270/428 cases (63.1%). The overall sensitivity was 71.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 56.9–82.9%], specificity 97.7% (95% CI: 94.7–99.3%), positive predictive value 88.1% (95% CI: 74.4–96.0%), negative predictive value 93.4% (95% CI: 89.4–96.3%), accuracy 92.6%, and receiver operating characteristic = 0.84. The specificity (47.1%), negative predictive value (61.5%), and accuracy (76.3%) were significantly lower in the surgical group. The efficacy of US between the sexes and age groups showed no significant difference, except the lower positive predictive values in the younger age group. Conclusion: US efficacy for the diagnosis of appendicitis in children is high enough to use as an imaging modality of first choice to reduce complications, hospital stay, and negative appendectomy rate.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929644114000459appendicitispediatricsultrasound
spellingShingle Sornsupha Limchareon
Alisara Wongsuttilert
Adisorn Boonyarit
Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Suspected Appendicitis in a Pediatric Population
Journal of Medical Ultrasound
appendicitis
pediatrics
ultrasound
title Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Suspected Appendicitis in a Pediatric Population
title_full Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Suspected Appendicitis in a Pediatric Population
title_fullStr Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Suspected Appendicitis in a Pediatric Population
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Suspected Appendicitis in a Pediatric Population
title_short Efficacy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Suspected Appendicitis in a Pediatric Population
title_sort efficacy of ultrasonography in the evaluation of suspected appendicitis in a pediatric population
topic appendicitis
pediatrics
ultrasound
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929644114000459
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AT alisarawongsuttilert efficacyofultrasonographyintheevaluationofsuspectedappendicitisinapediatricpopulation
AT adisornboonyarit efficacyofultrasonographyintheevaluationofsuspectedappendicitisinapediatricpopulation