[Diagnostic yield of abdominal ultrasonography in XXXX ].

@entity1 @entity697 @entity490
INTRODUCTION: @entity697 ( @entity697 ) is the first cause of surgical abdomen in childhood but diagnosis continues to be difficult in some cases. Abdominal ultrasonography has been shown to be useful when there is doubt about the diagnosis and can be quickly and easily performed at the @entity1 's bedside. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of abdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of @entity697 in our hospital. @entity1 AND METHODS: All @entity1 who visited the emergency department for @entity490 and who underwent abdominal ultrasonography to rule out @entity697 between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2000 were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: During the study period, 4217 @entity1 were evaluated in our service for @entity490 . Ultrasonography was performed in 528 @entity1 . Of these, the procedure was performed to rule out @entity697 in 308 @entity1 . Of these 308 @entity1 who met the study's inclusion criteria, the results of ultrasonography were compatible with @entity697 in 102 and were normal in 196. Ultrasonographic diagnosis differed from the final diagnosis in 16 @entity1 . In eight @entity1 with ultrasonographic findings suggestive of @entity697 , laparotomy revealed normal appendices. In the remaining eight @entity1 , ultrasonographic findings were normal and surgery revealed @entity697 . Based on these findings, the diagnostic yield of abdominal ultrasonography was: sensitivity: 96.6 %; specificity: 95.9 %, positive predictive value: 86 %; negative predictive value: 95.9 %. CONCLUSIONS: The overall diagnostic yield of abdominal ultrasonography in @entity697 our hospital is acceptable. Because ultrasonographic diagnosis is not always accurate, others diagnostic methods such as computed tomography should be used in doubtful cases.
