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Imaging of Acute Appendicitis in Adults: MRI

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Imaging of Acute Appendicitis in Adults and Children

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

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Abstract

MR imaging provides systemic, multi-planar evaluation of the entire abdomen with excellent anatomic resolution and allows identification of the etiology for acute abdominal pain without exposing the patient to ionizing radiation and without the necessity of administration of intravenous contrast agents. Therefore, MR imaging is a valuable alternative to CT when US findings are inconclusive, especially in patients with higher risk for radiation exposure such as pregnant and pediatric patients. In this chapter, the role of MR imaging in diagnosis of acute appendicitis will be reviewed. Imaging protocols, MR-imaging features of the normal appendix, acute appendicitis and other causes of right-lower quadrant pain mimicking appendicitis will be described. Indications for MR imaging (with a special emphasis in pregnant patients) and safety issues will also be reviewed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 2026, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Christine Schmid-Tannwald & Aytekin Oto

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  1. Christine Schmid-Tannwald
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  2. Aytekin Oto
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Correspondence to Aytekin Oto .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Radiology, Hôpital Erasme, Route de Lennik 808, Brussels, 1070, Belgium

    Caroline KEYZER

  2. Hôspital Erasme, Department of Radiology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, Brussels, 1070, Belgium

    Pierre Alain Gevenois

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Schmid-Tannwald, C., Oto, A. (2012). Imaging of Acute Appendicitis in Adults: MRI. In: KEYZER, C., Gevenois, P. (eds) Imaging of Acute Appendicitis in Adults and Children. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_218

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_218

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