Manifestations of Computed Tomography in Complicated Appendicitis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize the manifestations of computed tomography (CT) in complicated appendicitis. We retrospectively analyzed the CT findings of 21 patients with surgically proved complicated appendicitis. Right lower quadrant diseases were shown in all patients by CT scan and a specific diagnosis of complicated appendicitis was made in 13(61.9%) cases. Complicated appendicitis was highly suggested in 6(28.6%) cases and CT misdiagnosed 2(9.5%) cases. The post-CT diagnoses (90.5%) were significantly better than pre-CT (42.9%). The CT findings of complicated appendicitis were: abscess formation at correlate anatomical spaces (95.2 %), pericecal inflammation (57.1%), appendicolith (38.1%), an abnormal appendix (28.6%), paralytic ileus (33.3%), mechanical ileus (9.5%), pylephlebitis of portal vein or SMV (9.5%) and right obstructive hydronephrosis (4.8%). We concluded that CT is valuable in evaluating patients suspecting to have complicated appendicitis.