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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Trautlein JJ, Lambert RL, Miller J. Malpractice in the emergency department: review of 200 cases.Ann Emerg Med. 1991;20:45–50.
Wagner JM, McKinney P, Carpenter JL. Does this patient have appendicitis?JAMA. 1996;276:1589–1594.
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.
Schwartz SI. Appendix. In: Schwartz, ed.Principles of Surgery. McGraw Hill; 1994:1307–1318.
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.
Migraine S, Atri M, Bret PM, Lough JO, Hinchey JE. Spontaneously resolving acute appendicitis: clinical and sonographic documentation.Radiology. 1997;205:55–58.
Barber MD, McLaren J, Rainey JB. Recurrent appendicitis.Br J Surg. 1997;84:110–112.
Alvarado A. A practical score for the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis.Ann Emerg Med. 1986;15:557–579.
Teicher I, Landa B, Cohn M, Kabnick LS, Wise L. Scoring system to aid in diagnoses of appendicitis.Ann Surg. 1983;753–759.
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.
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.
Jabra AA, Shalaby-Rana EI, Fishman EK. CT of appendicitis in children.J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1997;21:661–666.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rypins EB, Kipper SL. 99mTc-hexamethylpropylenea oxime (Tc-WBC) scan for diagnosing acute appendicitis in children.Am Surg. 1997;63:878–881.
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.
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.
Gauderer MW. Acute abdomen: when to operate immediately and when to observe.Semin Pediatr Surg. 1997;6:74–80.
Senbanjo RO. Management of patients with equivocal signs of appendicitis.J R Coll Surg Edinburgh. 1997;42:85–88.
Pearl RH, Hale DA, Molloy M, Schutt DC, Jaques DP. Pediatric appendectomy.J Pediatr Surg. 1995;30:173–178.
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.
Williams GR. A history of appendicitis with anecdotes illustrating its importance.Ann Surg. 83;197:495–506.
Cloud DT. Appendicitis. In: Ashcraft KW, Holder TM, eds.Pediatric Surgery. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 1993:470–477.
Hale DA, Molly M, Pearl RH, Schutt DC, Jaques DP. Appendectomy: a contemporary appraisal.Ann Surg. 1997:225:252–261.
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.
Adolph VR, Falterman KW. Appendicitis in children in the managed care era.J Pediatr Surg. 1996;31:1035–1036.
Brender JD, Marcuse EK, Koepsell TC, Hatch EI. Childhood appendicitis: factors associated with perforation.Pediatrics. 1985;76:301–306.
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.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
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
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02944284