The effect of radiologist’s experience on the measurement of appendix diameter in children with acute appendicitis
Ufuk Ateş+1
, Anar Gurbanov1, Ergun Ergün2, Gülnur Gollu1, Nil Yaşam Taştekin3, Meltem Bingöl Koloğlu1, Aydın Yağmurlu1, Ahmet Murat Çakmak1, Hüseyin Dindar1
1Ankara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakultesi, Çocuk Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
2Dr. Sami Ulus Kadın Doğum Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Çocuk Cerrahisi Bölümü, Ankara, Türkiye
3Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Kırşehir, Türkiye
Keywords: Acute appendicitis, child, appendix diameter, radiology specialist, ultrasonography
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the importance of radiologist’s experience in the diagnosis of appendicitis via comparing the diameter of appendix measured by ultrasonography (US) with manual measurement during surgery.
Material and Methods: Sociodemographic data, and preoperative US results of, 50 patients who underwent appendectomy, duration of experience of radiologists, and manually measured diameters of appendices, were retrospectively reviewed. Radiologists who performed US were divided into three groups according to their experience. The diameter of appendices measured by US and manual measurement during surgery were compared as for their concordance in consideration of the experience of radiologists.
Results: Thirty-two (64%) patients were male, and 18 (36%) were female. The median age of the patients was 10 (5-18) years. It was observed that diameters of appendices measured by radiologists who had greater professional experience were higher compabilty with diameters of appendces measured during surgery.
Conclusion: USG is the first preferred imaging modality in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. There are studies suggesting further radiology examinations such as computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis when ultrasonography can not yield clear-cut information. Repetition of the US examination by a more experienced radiologist is less invasive and may be useful in making the diagnosis.
Atıf vermek için: Ateş U, Gurbanov A, Ergün E ve ark. Akut apandisitli çocuklarda apendiks çapının ölçülmesinde radyoloji uzmanının deneyiminin etkisi. Çoc. Cer. Derg. 2019;33(1):8-11.