Abnormal Computed Tomography Findings Among Children With Viral Gastroenteritis and Symptoms Mimicking Acute Appendicitis

Abstract

To evaluate computed tomography (CT) findings in pediatric patients with viral gastroenteritis who presented with clinical features of acute abdomen. During 2 seasons of viral gastroenteritis from 2005 to 2007, 302 children with acute gastrointestinal symptoms were admitted to our center for treatment of dehydration and associated complications. Stool specimens obtained from 130 of the 302 were tested for norovirus with the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method. Among the 130 patients, 44 tested positive for norovirus, 34 for rotavirus, and 1 for adenovirus. In the remaining 51, except one with Campylobacter jejuni, no viral or bacterial pathogen was detectable. An abdominal CT scan was performed in 4 patients with norovirus and in 1 with rotavirus for suspected acute abdomen including acute appendicitis. Computed tomography (CT) findings were similar among the 5 patients, including thickening of the bowel wall and fluid-filled bowel loops in the small intestine with no pathological findings in the stomach, appendix, or colon. Anatomical changes in the small intestine were shown by CT in 5 children with viral gastroenteritis who presented with acute abdomen. These imaging features of viral gastroenteritis may be useful in differential diagnosis of acute abdomen to avoid unnecessary surgery.