How to Evaluate Appendices with Borderline Diameters on CT: Proposal of a Quick Solution to Overcome the Limitations of the Established CT Criteria

Abstract

To propose a useful computed tomography (CT) criterion, the diameter with compression (DWC), especially in appendices with borderline diameters. We retrospectively collected 216 patients with visible appendices on CT after clinicopathologic confirmation of appendicitis. Each CT criterion of appendicitis was evaluated by an experienced abdominal radiologist: maximal outer diameter (MOD), DWC, mural thickness and enhancement, periappendiceal infiltration, and appendicolith. DWC is the expected diameter after deduction of the intraluminal compressible contents such as air and feces. All the CT criteria were compared in the appendicitis and nonappendicitis group. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the MOD and the DWC were 0.967 and 0.973, respectively. The optimal cutoff value was 8.2mm for the MOD and 6.6mm for the DWC. Twenty-five of the 80 appendicitis patients (31.2%) and 62 of the 136 nonappendicitis patients (45.6%) had MODs between 5.7mm and 9.8mm in the overlap between the two groups. In this overlap, the AUC of the MODs declined sharply to 0.767, whereas the AUC of the DWCs remained 0.923. Use of the criterion of DWC >6.6mm yielded a sensitivity of 84.0%, a specificity of 88.7%, and an accuracy of 87.4%. There were no other criteria with both sensitivity and specificity >80% in the range of overlap. The proposed CT criterion of the DWC is not affected by normal distension or periappendiceal inflammation but only by true appendicitis. Therefore, DWC can improve the diagnostic performance of appendicitis regardless of the MOD.