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Ultrasound of the appendix in children: is the child too obese?

Marcus Hörmann1, Martina Scharitzer, Alfred Stadler

  • 1Department of Radiodiagnostics, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. marcus.hoermann@univie.ac.at

European Radiology
|May 24, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Nutritional status impacts appendix detection via ultrasound in children. Higher body mass index-for-age percentiles (BMI-FAP) correlate with reduced appendix visualization, suggesting obesity is a factor in pediatric ultrasound imaging.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Ultrasound Technology

Background:

  • Obesity's negative impact on adult appendix detection via ultrasound is known.
  • The effect of obesity on appendix visualization in pediatric ultrasound remains unproven.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if nutritional status, defined by body mass index-for-age percentiles (BMI-FAP), affects appendix detection in children using ultrasound.
  • To investigate the correlation between pediatric nutritional condition and ultrasound-based appendix visualization.

Main Methods:

  • 126 children with suspected appendicitis underwent ultrasound.
  • Children were categorized into three weight groups based on BMI-FAP.
  • Ultrasound findings were correlated with BMI-FAP categories.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences (p=0.04) in appendix detection were observed across the three BMI-FAP weight groups.
  • No statistical significance was found for individual BMI, weight, height, or age in appendix detection.
  • A correlation exists between BMI-FAP and appendix detectability in pediatric ultrasound.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric nutritional condition, as assessed by BMI-FAP, is significantly associated with the ability to detect the appendix via ultrasound.
  • BMI-FAP is a crucial factor influencing ultrasound appendix detection rates in children, unlike isolated BMI or age.

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