A new paper in the British Journal of Surgery, published by Oxford University Press, indicates it’s now possible to diagnose appendicitis using low-does CT scans, decreasing the radiation exposure, which is of significant clinical importance especially in young patients.
Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions and appendicectomies are some of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. It can be difficult to diagnose appendicitis, however. Such difficulties may delay or lead to unnecessary surgeries. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans are very useful in helping doctors to make the correct diagnosis but there are concerns about radiation exposure.
