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The computed tomography appearance of recurrent and chronic appendicitis
P M Rao1, J T Rhea, R A Novelline
1Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Computed tomography (CT) scans reveal that recurrent and chronic appendicitis share identical imaging features with acute appendicitis. This makes CT scans valuable for diagnosing these less common forms of appendicitis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Recurrent and chronic appendicitis present diagnostic challenges.
- Distinguishing these forms from acute appendicitis is crucial for appropriate management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the computed tomography (CT) appearance of recurrent and chronic appendicitis.
- To compare CT findings in recurrent/chronic appendicitis with those in acute appendicitis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 100 appendiceal CT examinations in patients with proven appendicitis.
- Identification of 18 patients meeting criteria for recurrent or chronic appendicitis.
- Comparison of CT findings between recurrent/chronic and acute appendicitis cases.
Main Results:
- CT findings in 18 recurrent/chronic appendicitis cases were indistinguishable from those in 82 acute appendicitis cases.
- Common findings included pericecal stranding (100%), dilated appendix (88.9%), and apical thickening (66.7%).
- Specific findings like appendoliths, adenopathy, and abscesses were also similarly present in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Computed tomography findings for recurrent and chronic appendicitis are identical to those observed in acute appendicitis.
- Appendiceal CT is a beneficial imaging modality for evaluating patients with suspected recurrent or chronic appendicitis.
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