Nonspecificity of barium enema findings in acute appendicitis

Barium enema examination is a well known and useful adjunctive technique for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis when its clinical presentation is atypical. The combination of a mass effect on the cecum and nonfilling of the appendix have been considered virtually pathognomonic radiographic findings. These appearances on barium enema examination may also be encountered in patients with small-bowel obstruction, acute enterocolitis, pelvic hemorrhage and adhesions, and pelvic inflammatory disease. In three of five cases, these radiographic findings contributed to the decision to perform laparotomy, at which a histologically normal appendix was removed. The value of the barium enema examination in suspected but atypical acute appendicitis must be tempered by the recognition that occasionally other diseases with acute presentations produce similar findings.