J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  1997 Jun;16(2):141-146.

Value of Color Doppler Sonography in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

• Lee JC
• Kim HS
• Song KY
• Yi JG
• Park JH
• Lee YJ
• Han CW
• Lee JH

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical usefulness of color Doppler US compared to the gray-scale US in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. MATERIALS & METHODS: Two-hundred and two patients, clinically suspected to have appendicitis, were examined with gray-scale US and color Doppler US. Diagnostic criteria for appendicitis were dilated (6 mm < or = ), non-compressible appendix with or without periappendiceal abscess on gray-scale US, and increased vascularity in appendiceal wall and surrounding soft tissue on color Doppler US.
RESULTS
Sixty nine patients had acute appendicitis, On gray-scale US, sensitivity was 89.1%; specificity 91.3%, and accuracy 90.5%. On color Doppler US, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 89.6, 88.2, and 88.6%, respectively. False negative cases were 12 on gray-scale US and 17 on color Doppler US.
CONCLUSION
Color Doppler sonography shows the hypervascularity of appendix and surrounding soft tissue with inflammation, but its findings are not essential to a diagnosis of appencitis, and gray-scale US is enough for a diagnosis of appendicitis.

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Appendicitis*
Appendix
Diagnosis*
Humans
Inflammation
Sensitivity and Specificity