Ultrasound scanning of the appendix

Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain in both children and adults, and remains the most frequent abdominal surgical emergency globally, with approximately 50,000 acute appendicectomies performed annually in the UK. Timely diagnosis is key for optimising outcomes with appropriate treatment. Delays in diagnosis and initiation of treatment can lead to significant morbidity and unfavourable outcomes.

In experienced hands ultrasound is an inexpensive, quick and powerful imaging tool for diagnosing a range of appendix pathologies. It offers excellent spatial and soft tissue resolution that is often difficult to achieve with cross-sectional imaging modalities. Ultrasound can also serve as a valuable problem-solving tool in indeterminate cases and in the assessment of tumours, which can be a cause of appendicitis in older patients.

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