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Added Diagnostic Value of Multiplanar Reformation of Multidetector CT Data in Patients with Suspected Appendicitis¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung-Hee University, 149 Sangil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 134-727, South Korea (H.C.K., D.M.Y., W.J.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, South Korea (S.J.P.). Presented as an education exhibit at the 2006 RSNA Annual Meeting. Received March 6, 2007; revision requested June 15 and received July 10; accepted July 20. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to H.C.K. (e-mail: khcppp{at}lycos.co.kr).

Computed tomography (CT) is an accurate and effective modality for the diagnosis and staging of appendicitis. CT provides rapid and complete evaluation of patients with suspected appendicitis and clearly demonstrates the typical findings of appendicitis, including a distended appendix, periappendiceal fat stranding, an appendicolith, and focal thickening of the cecum. Identification of an inflamed appendix at CT may be difficult in certain patients (eg, patients with scanty intraabdominal fat, an unusual location of the cecum and appendix, prominent cecal wall thickening and pericecal fat stranding, small bowel dilatation, or abscess formation adjacent to the right adnexa). In such cases, multiplanar reformation (MPR) of multidetector CT data may provide improved appendiceal visualization and increase the physician’s confidence in diagnosing appendicitis. Moreover, the use of MPR in addition to conventional CT may provide improved visualization of the normal appendix and thereby enhance confidence in excluding appendicitis and diagnosing diseases that mimic appendicitis. Consequently, the radiologist should obtain MPR images in the evaluation of patients with suspected appendicitis to help ensure the correct diagnosis.

© RSNA, 2008

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