Clin Ultrasound.  2016 May;1(1):19-38. 10.18525/cu.2016.1.1.19.

Ultrasonography of Appendicitis

• Kim DH

• KMID: 2555394
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18525/cu.2016.1.1.19

Abstract

Appendicitis is common cause for acute abdomen. With widespread use of high resolution ultrasonography, it has been widely used to evaluate patients with acute right lower quadrant pain. Ultrasonography is easy to perform, minimally invasive, lacks ionizing radiation, allows dynamic visualization of the abdominal organs and is of lower cost compared with computed tomography. This examination can visualize hypertrophy and disruption of the layered structure of the appendiceal wall, accumulation of purulent fluid, and the presence of a fecalith in the appendix. Significance of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of appendicitis is as follows: firstly, it can help definitely diagnose appendicitis in patients with suspected appendicitis or atypical clinical presentation. Secondly, it can help rule out appendicitis in patients with lower abdominal pain by demonstrating normal appendix. But ultrasonography has some limitations in patients with atypical position of appendix or obesity. So understanding of various ultrasonographic findings of appendicitis and acquisition of ultrasonographic techniques such as position change and graded compression can help reduce false positive and false negative diagnosis of appendicitis.

Keyword

Ultrasonography; Appendix; Appendicitis; 초음파; 충수; 충수염