HIGH-RESOLUTION ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS

Abstract

The ultrasonography has recently gained an important role in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis due to widely used high resolution transducers. The aim of this study was to determine the value of the high resolution ultrasonography in diagnosis of the acute appendicitis. The results of the ultrasonography in 82 cases suspected of acute appendicitis were evaluated. High-resolution 5-7.5 MHz transducers were used in all cases. If the diameter of the inflamed-non perforeted appendicitis was over than 7 mm and the wall of the appendix was over than 2 mm, the ultrasonographic result was accepted as positive. Operation revealed acute appendicitis in 76 cases, primary peritonitis in 1 case, meckel diverticulitis in 1 case, mesenter lymphadenitis in 2 cases, ruptured ovarian cyst in 2 cases. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ultrasonography were 71 %, 100%, 73% respectively. It was concluded that although ultrasonography is helpful in diagnosis of acute appendicitis in most cases, negative ultrasonography is not excluded the presence of acute appendicitis and sonographic findings should be evaluated in the light of clinical and physical findings and clinical experience.