We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBETECH PUBLISHING LLC

Download Mobile App




Oral Contrast Administered During CT Scans for Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis Offers Slight Benefit

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 09 Jun 2010
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.

Oral contrast is frequently used during CT for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis to help localize the appendix. The study, performed at Pennsylvania (Penn) State Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, PA, USA) included 192 CT exams that were performed with oral contrast and 72 without. The study's findings revealed that the accuracy of CT without oral contrast in diagnosing appendicitis was 93% and CT with oral contrast was 97%,” said Rafel Tappouni, M.D., 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.

The study was presented May 4, 2010, at the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) 2010 annual meeting, held in San Diego, CA, USA.

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

Related Links:
Penn State Hershey Medical Center

New
Silver Member
X-Ray QA Device
Accu-Gold+ Touch Pro
Breast Localization System
MAMMOREP LOOP
Pocket Fetal Doppler
CONTEC10C/CL
Half Apron
Demi

Channels

Nuclear Medicine

view channel
Image: The diagnostic tool could improve diagnosis and treatment decisions for patients with chronic lung infections (Photo courtesy of SNMMI)

Novel Bacteria-Specific PET Imaging Approach Detects Hard-To-Diagnose Lung Infections

Mycobacteroides abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacteria that primarily affects immunocompromised patients and those with underlying lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary... Read more

Imaging IT

view channel
Image: The new Medical Imaging Suite makes healthcare imaging data more accessible, interoperable and useful (Photo courtesy of Google Cloud)

New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible

Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.