Skip to main content
Log in

Appendicitis in childhood

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comprehensive Therapy

Abstract

Ultrasonography, CT scanning, and prolonged observation may improve diagnostic accuracy of appendicitis in children with atypical presentations. This article describes diagnostic pitfalls, including early presentation and abnormal appendiceal location.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Trautlein JJ, Lambert RL, Miller J. Malpractice in the emergency department: review of 200 cases.Ann Emerg Med. 1991;20:45–50.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wagner JM, McKinney P, Carpenter JL. Does this patient have appendicitis?JAMA. 1996;276:1589–1594.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Korner H, Sondenaa K, Soreide JA, Andersen E, Nysted A, Lende TH, et al. Incidence of acute nonperforated and perforated appendicitis: age-specific analysis.World J Surg. 1997;21:313–317.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Schwartz SI. Appendix. In: Schwartz, ed.Principles of Surgery. McGraw Hill; 1994:1307–1318.

  5. Chande VT, Kinnane M. Role of the primary care provider in expediting care of children with acute appendicitis.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996;150:703–706.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Migraine S, Atri M, Bret PM, Lough JO, Hinchey JE. Spontaneously resolving acute appendicitis: clinical and sonographic documentation.Radiology. 1997;205:55–58.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Barber MD, McLaren J, Rainey JB. Recurrent appendicitis.Br J Surg. 1997;84:110–112.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Alvarado A. A practical score for the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis.Ann Emerg Med. 1986;15:557–579.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Teicher I, Landa B, Cohn M, Kabnick LS, Wise L. Scoring system to aid in diagnoses of appendicitis.Ann Surg. 1983;753–759.

  10. Lane MJ, Katz DS, Ross BA, Clautice-Engle TL, Mindelzun RE, Jeffrey RB Jr. Unenhanced helical CT for suspected acute appendicitis.Am J Roentgenol. 1997;168:405–409.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rao PM, Rhea JT, Novelline RA, Mostafavi AA, Lawrason JN, McCabe CJ. Helical CT combined with contract material administered only through the colon for imaging of suspected appendicitis.Am J Roentgenol. 1997;169:1275–1280.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jabra AA, Shalaby-Rana EI, Fishman EK. CT of appendicitis in children.J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1997;21:661–666.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Schuler JG, Shortsleeve MJ, Goldenseon RS, Perez-Rosello JM, Perlmutter RA, Thorsen A. Is there a role for abdominal computed tomographic scans in appendicitis?Arch Surg. 1998;133:373–376.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rao PM, Rhea JT, Novelline RA, Mostafavi AA, McCabe CJ. Effect of computed tomography of the appendix on treatment of patients and use of hospital resources.N Engl J Med. 1998;338:141–146.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Uebel P, Weiss H, Trimbom CP, Fiedler L, Bersch W. Ultrasound diagnosis of acute appendicitis: possibilities and limits of the methods: results of prospective and retrospective clinical studies.Ultraschall Med. 1996;17:100–105.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Chen SC, Chen KM, Wang SM, Chang KJ. Abdominal sonography screening of clinically diagnosed or suspected appendicitis before surgery.World J Surg. 1998;22:449–452.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Rarnachandran P, Sivit CJ, Newman KD, Schwartz MZ. Ultrasonography as an adjunct in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis: a 4-year experience.J Pediatr Surg. 1996;31:164–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Galindo Gallego M, Fadrique B, Nieto MA, Cxalleja S, Fernandez-Acenero MJ, Ais G, et al. Evaluation of ultrasonography and clinical diagnostic scoring in suspected appendicitis.Br J Surg. 1998;85:37–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rypins EB, Kipper SL. 99mTc-hexamethylpropylenea oxime (Tc-WBC) scan for diagnosing acute appendicitis in children.Am Surg. 1997;63:878–881.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wong DW, Vasinrapee P, Spieth ME, Cook RE, Ansari AN, Jones M Jr., et al. Rapid detection of acute appendicitis with Tc-99m labeled intact polyvalent human immune globulin.J Am Coll Surg. 1997;185:534–543.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Rypins EB, Evans DG, Hinrichs W, Kipper SL. Tc-99m-HMPAO white blood cell scan for diagnosis of acute appendicitis in patients with equivocal clinical presentation.Ann Surg. 1997;226:58–65.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gauderer MW. Acute abdomen: when to operate immediately and when to observe.Semin Pediatr Surg. 1997;6:74–80.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Senbanjo RO. Management of patients with equivocal signs of appendicitis.J R Coll Surg Edinburgh. 1997;42:85–88.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Pearl RH, Hale DA, Molloy M, Schutt DC, Jaques DP. Pediatric appendectomy.J Pediatr Surg. 1995;30:173–178.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Soderquist-Elinder C, Hirsch K, Bergdahl S, Rutqvist J, Frenckner B. Prophylactic antibiotics in uncomplicated appendicitis during childhood: a prospective randomized study.Eur J Pediatr Surg. 1995;5:282–285.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Williams GR. A history of appendicitis with anecdotes illustrating its importance.Ann Surg. 83;197:495–506.

  27. Cloud DT. Appendicitis. In: Ashcraft KW, Holder TM, eds.Pediatric Surgery. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 1993:470–477.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Hale DA, Molly M, Pearl RH, Schutt DC, Jaques DP. Appendectomy: a contemporary appraisal.Ann Surg. 1997:225:252–261.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. O’Toole SJ, Karamanoukian HL, Allen JE, Caty MG, O’Toole D, Azizkhan RG, et al. Insurance-related differences in the presentation of pediatric appendicitis.J Pediatr Surg. 1996:31:1032–1034.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Adolph VR, Falterman KW. Appendicitis in children in the managed care era.J Pediatr Surg. 1996;31:1035–1036.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Brender JD, Marcuse EK, Koepsell TC, Hatch EI. Childhood appendicitis: factors associated with perforation.Pediatrics. 1985;76:301–306.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Mueller BA, Daling JR, Moore DE, Weiss NS, Spadoni LR, Stadel BV, et al. Appendectomy and the risk of tubal infertility.New Engl J Med. 1986;315:1506–1508.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Joffe, M.D., Lavelle, J. Appendicitis in childhood. Compr Ther 25, 370–375 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02944284

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02944284

Keywords

Navigation