Ultrasonography and Limited Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis and Management of Appendicitis in Children

Abstract

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause for emergency abdominal surgery in childhood with 60,000 to 80,000 cases diagnosed per year in the United States.^1,2 Morbidity and mortality of acute appendicitis in children remain high, mainly due to those complications associated with delayed diagnosis.^2-8 Accurate diagnosis is difficult in the pediatric population as the initial presentation of appendicitis can be obscure and closely mimicked by other common disease processes.^9-17