Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36685769›Full record

ArticleAnnals of surgical treatment and research2023

Clinical course in children with equivocal appendicitis on computed tomography: a retrospective cohort study.

Hee-Beom Yang, Han-Byol Song, Ji-Won Han, Joong Kee Youn, Dayoung Ko, Young Jin Ryu, Ji Young Kim, Hyun-Young Kim

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of surgical treatment and research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Hee-Beom YangDepartment of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5343-0448
Han-Byol SongDepartment of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9497-4644
Ji-Won HanDepartment of Surgery, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6435-9627
Joong Kee YounDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6345-5745
Dayoung KoDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6090-1906
Young Jin RyuDepartment of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5222-3749
Ji Young KimDepartment of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1466-2112
Hyun-Young KimDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0106-9969
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital · KRSeoul National University Children's Hospital · KREwha Womans University · KRSeoul National University · KR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Appendectomy is one of the most common surgeries in children. Although various radiological examinations are performed, they do not always reveal a definitive diagnosis of appendicitis. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course of equivocal appendicitis, identify the factors associated with appendectomy, and suggest appropriate management for these patients. Methods: Patients younger than 19 years who visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital with a differential diagnosis of appendicitis from January 2013 to December 2017 were included. All participants conducted 'appendiceal CT' with a scoring scale of 1-5. The higher the score, the higher the likelihood of a radiologic diagnosis of appendicitis. We defined the appendicitis CT score of 2-4 as equivocal appendicitis (n = 143). Medical records were reviewed retrospectively for demographics, further examination as abdominal ultrasonography, and appendectomy status (yes or no). The mean follow-up period was 15.6 ± 71 days. Results: Equivocal appendicitis accounted for 16.7%. Additional ultrasonography test was performed in 24.5% (35 of 143). In total, 34 patients (23.8%) underwent appendectomy. Among the patients with appendiceal CT scores 2, 3, and 4, 4.9%, 50.0%, and 87.5% underwent appendectomy, respectively. Higher WBC count, higher appendicitis CT score, and readmission were significantly associated with appendectomy in patients with equivocal appendicitis. Conclusion: Higher appendicitis CT score and WBC level were positively associated with appendectomy. Careful observation can be a treatment option in appendicitis CT score 2 or 3 groups. Appendectomy is the first-line treatment for patients with appendicitis score 4. Additional ultrasonography test is advisable to determine treatment modality for equivocal appendicitis.

Indexed as

AppendectomyAppendicitisComputed tomographyPediatricsSurgery

Identifiers

PMID36685769
PMCPMC9830045
OpenAlexW4313470800

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.