Dear Ultrasound Insider,
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal surgical emergencies. But is bedside ultrasound for appendicitis (BUSA) performed by emergency physicians a reliable diagnostic tool?
Ultrasound does offer a high level of specificity, but the evidence shows that BUSA can't be trusted to rule out acute appendicitis, according to Dr. Matthew Solley of the University of California - Irvine Medical Center. He discussed his institution's experience with BUSA at the 2007 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting in New York City.
In a prospective study involving 126 patients, the UC Irvine research team found BUSA's sensitivity to be unacceptably low.
As an Ultrasound Insider subscriber, you have access to this Ultrasound Insider Exclusive story before it is published for the rest of our AuntMinnie.com members. To learn more about how BUSA performed, click here.
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