Imaging Trends for Pediatric Appendicitis: Use of Ultrasound Is Up and Use of CT Is Down

Ultrasound alone or with CT, but not CT alone, was associated with lower negative appendectomy rates.

Use of computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) imaging have improved the preoperative diagnosis of appendicitis in children with equivocal clinical findings. To examine imaging trends for appendicitis and whether imaging is associated with clinical outcomes, researchers retrospectively reviewed administrative data from 55,238 children with a diagnosis of appendicitis at 40 U.S. children's hospital emergency departments between 2005 and 2009.

Use of imaging modalities varied widely among institutions (interquartile ranges, 21%–49% of patients for CT and 2%–26% for US). The median institution imaging rate for patients with appendicitis was 48%. Girls and children younger than 5 years were significantly more likely to undergo an imaging st…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)