Accuracy and radiation dose reduction of a limited abdominopelvic CT in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

作者：Corwin Michael T^*; Chang Melanie; Fananapazir Ghaneh; Seibert Anthony; Lamba Ramit

来源：Abdominal Imaging, 2015, 40(5): 1177-1182.

DOI：10.1007/s00261-014-0280-0

• Appendicitis
• Dose reduction
• MDCT

To determine the accuracy and radiation dose reduction of a limited abdominopelvic CT from the bottom of T10 to the top of the pubic symphysis in patients with suspected acute appendicitis.
We performed a HIPAA compliant and IRB-approved retrospective study of adult patients who underwent CT abdomen/pelvis for suspected appendicitis. The Z-axis length and whole body effective doses of the original full scan and theoretical limited scan from the bottom of T10 to the top of the pubic symphysis were recorded. Images were reviewed to determine if the appendix or entire cecum would be visualized and if any cases of appendicitis or alternative diagnoses would be missed with the limited scan.
235 patients (89 male, mean age 44.6 years) were included. The limited scan resulted in a mean Z-axis length reduction of 5.1 cm superiorly, 6.1 cm inferiorly, and a total reduction of 11.2 cm (24%). The mean whole body effective dose was 11.8 and 9.1 mSv for the original and limited scans, respectively (23% reduction). The entire appendix or cecum was visualized in all cases. Appendicitis was present in 24 cases and an alternative diagnosis was made in 75. No cases of appendicitis or alternative diagnoses were missed using the limited scan.
A limited range CT from the bottom of T10 to the top of the pubic symphysis is as accurate as full abdominopelvic CT in evaluating patients with suspected acute appendicitis and results in approximately 23% dose reduction.

• 出版日期2015-6