[Value of sonography in routine diagnosis of acute appendicitis. A retrospective analysis]

Our retrospective study of ultrasound examinations in 261 consecutively appendectomized patients shows a lower sensitivity in sonographic diagnosis of acute appendicitis compared to our former prospective study. One reason seems to be the different experience of the participating surgeons in ultrasound examination of acute appendicitis. Conditions of a prospective study might be another reason for our former better results. In conclusion recognition of appendicitis during ultrasound must lead to early operation, but a negative ultrasound alone is not safe enough to avoid surgical intervention in clinically supposed appendicitis. In every-day surgery clinical experience combined with additionally performed ultrasound leads to an early and safe indication for appendectomy.