Surgical evaluation of appendicitis in the new era of radiographic imaging

Abstract

Appendicitis remains a common disease with over 250,000 cases in the United States per year. Surgical intervention has been the primary treatment for over a century, and clinical evaluation has been the mainstay for diagnosis of acute appendicitis for decades. Appendiceal imaging modalities have become increasingly popular to assist with the diagnosis of appendicitis, and the surgeon is no longer the sole diagnostician for this disease. Radiologists and emergency medical physicians have entered the arena. This review examines the surgical and radiological literature to evaluate the current atmosphere of how surgeons, radiologists, and emergency physicians interact in the diagnosis of appendicitis.