[Is ultrasound examination in acute appendicitis dispensable? Acute Abdominal Pain Study Group]

In a prospective multicenter observational trial, the performance and clinical benefit of ultrasound of the appendix was evaluated in the clinical routine. Ultrasound of the appendix was performed in 870 of 2280 patients (38%); the overall sensitivity was 55% (range: 13 to 90%), specificity 95%, positive and negative predictive value 81 and 85%. There was no correlation between the frequency or accuracy of ultrasound and the accuracy of the clinician, the negative appendectomy or perforation rate.