RESUMO
The goal of our study was to ascertain the role and place of helical CT for preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Our study relied upon the results of helical CT scans of 60 patients, which were diagnosed probable acute appendicitis based upon clinical signs. Of these 60 patients 49 (81,6%) were female, 11 (18,4%) male. For all patients laboratory studies of blood were made, 31 patients were examined by ultrasonography. Among this group the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was verified by CT scan in 41 patients. In the case of 5 patients the scan was equivocal because of smaller amount of omentum; in this subgroup of 5 patients (5% overall) three were given radiocontrast dye, and two (3,3% overall) were not. In 11 (18,3%) cases the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was not verified, and in three cases the diagnosis was incorrect. According to data of our study and intraoperative data analysis, sensitivity of this method approaches 93% and the specificity - 92%, and overall diagnostic accuracy 93%. Helical CT may be stated as diagnostic method of choice in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. It is helpful in clinical decision making, and reducing the amount of false appendectomies.
