"Rule out appendicitis": a Canadian emergency radiology perspective on medicolegal risks, imaging pitfalls, and strategies to improve care.

Abstract

We provide a unique Canadian perspective on the medicolegal risks associated with imaging acute appendicitis, incorporating data requested from the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) on closed medicolegal cases over the past decade. We include a review of current clinical and imaging guidelines in the diagnosis and management of this common emergency room presentation. A case-based approach is implemented in this article to explore ways to mitigate potential errors in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.