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Difficulties in the diagnosis of appendicitis: review of CT and US images

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Abstract

To determine the reasons for missing a distended appendix, we discuss cases of acute appendicitis in which either or both computed tomography (CT) and/or ultrasonography (US) initially failed to detect distended appendix. In some cases, distended appendices that were undetected on US were easily detected by CT, and vice versa. Failure to detect a distended appendix does not always eliminate the possibility of acute appendicitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan

    Nobuyuki Kosaka, Hidemasa Uematsu, Hirohiko Kimura & Harumi Itoh

  2. Department of Radiology, Fukui Red Cross Hospital, 2-4-1 Tsukimi, Fukui, Fukui, 918-8501, Japan

    Tadashi Sagoh

  3. Department of Radiology, Yawata Medical Center, 12-7 Yawata, Komatsu, Ishikawa, 923-8551, Japan

    Sanae Yamamori

  4. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Fukuiken Saiseikai Hospital, 7-1 Funabashi, Wadanaka-cho, Fukui, Fukui, 918-8503, Japan

    Shiro Miyayama

Authors
  1. Nobuyuki Kosaka
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  2. Tadashi Sagoh
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  3. Hidemasa Uematsu
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  4. Hirohiko Kimura
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  5. Sanae Yamamori
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  6. Shiro Miyayama
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  7. Harumi Itoh
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Correspondence to Nobuyuki Kosaka.

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Kosaka, N., Sagoh, T., Uematsu, H. et al. Difficulties in the diagnosis of appendicitis: review of CT and US images. Emerg Radiol 14, 289–295 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-007-0658-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-007-0658-1

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