Ultrasound of Appendicitis

Abstract

Acute appendicitis is a common cause for an 'acute abdomen' and is the most common abdominal condition requiring emergency surgical intervention. Misdiagnosis is fraught with morbid complications, ranging from unnecessary surgery to appendiceal perforation, peritonitis or sepsis. In this article, we discuss the application of ultrasound to the diagnosis of appendicitis. We detail the ultrasound imaging technique, including practical tips and pitfalls, describe the sonographic criteria for the diagnosis of appendicitis, discuss the relative strengths and weaknesses of ultrasound compared with other diagnostic approaches, and review the reported performance of ultrasound in the diagnosis of appendicitis.