Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39572429›Full record

ArticleAbdominal radiology (New York)2025

Current usage and diagnostic performance of cross-sectional imaging in patients with suspected acute appendicitis: a national survey in China.

Li Ma, Zihan Niu, Wen Xu, Ruojiao Wang, Luying Gao, Xixi Tao, Yuxin Jiang, Jianchu Li, Hongyan Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Abdominal radiology (New York), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Li MaPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Zihan NiuPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Wen XuPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Ruojiao WangPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Luying GaoPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Xixi TaoPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yuxin JiangPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Jianchu LiPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Hongyan WangPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China. whychina@126.com.

Funding

National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding 2022-PUMCH-B-064
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe role of cross-sectional imaging in the management of acute appendicitis (AA) is contentious. This study aimed to investigate the current usage and diagnostic performance of ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT).

methodsA national survey was conducted by a core group from The National Ultrasound Quality and Control Center of China among radiologists practicing in medical institutions equipped with emergency departments and regularly performing appendectomies. Radiologists participated by completing the survey online from August 2022 to August 2023 after reviewing medical records of at least 40 patients with suspected AA. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value and likelihood ratios were calculated for US and CT, respectively. Diagnostic performance of US between hospital subgroups were also compared.

resultsA total of 141 questionnaires were submitted and 118 were eligible, each representing a distinct hospital. A total of 1844 children and 4165 adults were included. There were 76.4% patients underwent US studies, while 23.9% underwent CT studies. Higher percentage of children underwent US studies than adults (82.2% vs. 73.9%, P = 0.000). In children, the sensitivity and specificity of US were 89% and 90%, and of CT were 90% and 48%. In adults, the sensitivity and specificity of US were 92% and 84%, and of CT were 94% and 79%. The Likelihood ratios of US were higher in specialized hospitals (children's or children's and women's hospitals) than general hospitals (34.1 vs. 6.43).

conclusionUS is more commonly used than CT for diagnosing AA in both adults and children. The diagnostic performance of US is comparable to CT. These findings underscore the recognition of US in clinical practice as a low-cost, non-radiative tool.

Indexed as

AppendicitisPractice Patterns, Physicians'Tomography, X-Ray ComputedAcute DiseaseAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolChinaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSensitivity and SpecificitySurveys and QuestionnairesUltrasonographyAcute appendicitisCTDiagnostic performanceNational surveyUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID39572429
PMCPMC11991965

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.