Cross-Sectional Analysis of Radiological Findings in Patients with Acute Appendicitis

Abstract

Background: An accurate diagnosis is essential to preventing acute appendicitis complications, a common surgical emergency. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), and Ultrasound (US) are utilized to identify acute appendicitis. Although CT is considered the gold standard, each modality's performance depends on patient characteristics and clinical circumstances.

Methods: This cross-sectional study compared CT, ultrasonography, and MRI in detecting acute appendicitis in 100 GMCH Purnia patients. We documented demographics, clinical complaints, and imaging results. Each imaging modality was assessed for sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy.

Results: CT has the highest sensitivity and specificity for acute appendicitis, 90% and 95%, respectively. Ultrasound has 85% sensitivity and 80% specificity compared to MRI. CT was the most effective method for detecting abscesses and fractures. CT offers superior diagnostic accuracy than ultrasound and MRI, statistically.

Conclusion: Acute appendicitis is effective to detected by CT due to its high sensitivity and specificity. MRI can replace ultrasonography, which is still important for first diagnosis, especially in pregnant and paediatric patients, when CT radiation is a concern. These findings support CT as the primary diagnostic method while acknowledging the complementary roles of MRI and ultrasound in particular patient categories. Future studies should examine imaging technology advances and validate these findings across centres.