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Ultrasonography in acute appendicitis. Body mass index as selection factor for US examination
T Josephson1, J Styrud, S Eriksson
1Department of Radiology, Karolinska Institutet at Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
Acta Radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987)
|October 4, 2000
Summary
Ultrasound (US) is effective for diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients with a body mass index (BMI) under 25. However, its diagnostic accuracy significantly decreases in patients with a BMI of 25 or higher.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Diagnostic Accuracy
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Acute appendicitis diagnosis can be challenging, leading to a high rate of negative laparotomies.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) may influence the effectiveness of diagnostic imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound (US) for diagnosing acute appendicitis.
- To compare US diagnostic performance based on patient body mass index (BMI).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 142 patients over 14 years undergoing US for suspected appendicitis.
- Calculation of patient BMI based on recorded height and weight.
Main Results:
- Ultrasound sensitivity was 0.76 for patients with BMI < 25.
- Ultrasound sensitivity was significantly lower at 0.37 for patients with BMI ≥ 25.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound is a valuable diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis in non-obese patients (BMI < 25).
- Diagnostic performance of ultrasound is limited in patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 25).