computed tomography signs
Last reviewed 01/2018
CT has not been widely accepted as a medium for investigation of appendicitis. Disadvantages include:
- expense
- time-consuming
- sensitivity and specificity not greater than 80%
- necessity for oral contrast media to produce adequate scan
Signs of appendicitis on a CT scan include:
- thickened appendiceal wall
- increased density of fat around caecum
- faecoliths in appendix
- abscess confined to wall of appendix
CT may find a niche in patients with an atypical history of right lower quadrant pain where provisional investigations have been equivocal.