CHRONIC APPENDICITIS and ULTRASOUND

 

Conclusion

Chronic appendicitis has often been misdiagnosed due to atypical symptoms at the time of presentation which mimics other pathologies of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract. 

Radiological imaging modalities are used in the evaluation of patients with high degree of clinical suspicion. This article has demonstrated the superiority of ultrasonography over CT scan for imaging of chronic appendicitis due to its advantages such as similar efficacy rates, higher spatial resolution, cost‑effectiveness, easy availability, and lack of ionizing radiation. Limitations of ultrasonography such as operator dependability, interobserver variations, and inability to visualize the appendix in excessively obese patients warrant the use of CT scan. However, the demonstration of evidence of chronic inflammation in the appendectomy specimen at histopathology provides definitive diagnosis.