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MRI for clinically suspected pediatric appendicitis: an implemented program

Michael M Moore1, Cristy N Gustas, Arabinda K Choudhary

  • 1Department of Radiology, Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. mmoore5@hmc.psu.edu

Pediatric Radiology
|June 9, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers a safe and effective alternative to CT scans for diagnosing pediatric appendicitis. This study demonstrates MRI

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Pediatric Imaging
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Emergent MRI is a viable alternative to CT for appendicitis evaluation, avoiding ionizing radiation.
  • Pediatric appendicitis evaluation using MRI remains underutilized despite its benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the development and outcomes of a clinical program utilizing MRI as the primary imaging modality for pediatric appendicitis.
  • To assess the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of an expedited MRI protocol in children.

Main Methods:

  • A four-sequence MRI protocol was used for 208 children (ages 3-17) with suspected appendicitis.
  • No intravenous/oral contrast or sedation was administered.
  • Data collected included diagnostic results and time parameters.

Main Results:

  • MRI demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy: 97.6% sensitivity and 97.0% specificity.
  • The expedited protocol was clinically feasible, with efficient imaging and reporting times.
  • Negative predictive value was 99.4%, indicating high confidence in ruling out appendicitis.

Conclusions:

  • MRI is an effective and efficient imaging method for pediatric appendicitis.
  • An expedited four-sequence MRI protocol achieves diagnostic performance comparable to CT.
  • MRI provides a radiation-free imaging option for children with suspected appendicitis.

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