Oral Contrast Administered During CT Scans For The Diagnosis Of Acute Appendicitis Provides Limited Accuracy Benefit, Study Suggests

Main Category: MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Also Included In: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Article Date: 04 May 2010 - 2:00 PDT


Patient ingestion of oral contrast provides only a small increase in the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) scans used in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2010 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA. Oral contrast is often used during CT for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis to help localize the appendix.

The study, performed at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA, included 192 CT exams that were performed with oral contrast and 72 without. "Results showed that the accuracy of CT without oral contrast in diagnosing appendicitis was 93 percent and CT with oral contrast was 97 percent," said Rafel Tappouni, MD, lead author of the study.

"There is no significant difference in the accuracy of CT with versus without oral contrast in diagnosing acute appendicitis," he said.

"At our institution, we stopped using oral contrast on CT of the abdomen and pelvis for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis over a year ago. This was well accepted by our emergency department physicians and has lead to improved work flow and less waiting for both patients and physicians," said Tappouni.

"Oral contrast administration delays a CT exam and therefore should be avoided in patients undergoing CT with a suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis," he said.

This study will be presented on Tuesday, May 4 at 5:40 p.m. Pacific Time.

Source
American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS)

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