A simple clinical decision rule to rule out appendicitis in patients with nondiagnostic ultrasound results.

Objectives: The objective was to identify a set of clinical features that can rule out appendicitis in patients with suspected acute appendicitis and nondiagnostic ultrasound (US) results, allowing safe discharge and next-day reevaluation without initial computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Data on clinical and US evaluation, including a number of prespecified variables potentially associated with acute appendicitis, were prospectively collected in two diagnostic accuracy studies of imaging. These studies included patients with suspected appendicitis seen in the emergency department (ED).

Accuracy and interobserver agreement between MR-non-expert radiologists and MR-experts in reading MRI for suspected appendicitis.

Objective: To compare accuracy and interobserver agreement between radiologists with limited experience in the evaluation of abdominal MRI (non-experts), and radiologists with longer MR reading experience (experts), in reading MRI in patients with suspected appendicitis.

Methods: MR imaging was performed in 223 adult patients with suspected appendicitis and read independently by two members of a team of eight MR-inexperienced radiologists, who were trained with 100 MR examinations previous to this study (non-expert reading). Expert reading was performed by two radiologists with a larger abdominal MR experience (>500 examinations) in consensus.

MRI features associated with acute appendicitis.

Objectives: To identify MRI features associated with appendicitis.

Methods: Features expected to be associated with appendicitis were recorded in consensus by two expert radiologists on 223 abdominal MRIs in patients with suspected appendicitis. Nine MRI features were studied: appendix diameter >7 mm, appendicolith, peri-appendiceal fat infiltration, peri-appendiceal fluid, absence of gas in the appendix, appendiceal wall destruction, restricted diffusion of the appendiceal wall, lumen or focal fluid collections.

A simple MRI protocol in patients with clinically suspected appendicitis: results in 138 patients and effect on outcome of appendectomy.

To establish the value of breathhold magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Over a 14-month period, 138 patients clinically suspected of having appendicitis were evaluated prospectively with MRI and comprised the study group. Fast turbo spin-echo breathhold T1, T2 and T2 fat suppression sequences were used in coronal and axial planes.

The value of power Doppler ultrasonography in Achilles tendinopathy: a prospective study.

Background: Neovascularization, detected with power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU), is thought by some to play a central role in pathogenesis of Achilles tendinopathy.

Hypothesis: Power Doppler ultrasonography neovascularization score is correlated with clinical severity at baseline and after conservative treatment.

Study Design: Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2.

MRI for clinically suspected appendicitis during pregnancy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether MRI can be used to accurately diagnose or exclude appendicitis in pregnant patients with clinically suspected appendicitis.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that MRI is helpful in the examination and diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnant patients. MRI may therefore be a good alternative to CT in pregnant patients for whom sonographic findings are nondiagnostic.