Visualization of normal appendix during non-contrast renal CT scan at King Hussein Medical Centre

Abstract EN

Objective : to evaluate the rate of visualization of normal appendix, its caliber and position among patients without history of prior surgery presenting to the Radiology Department for non-contrast renal CT scan in stone protocol. Methods : A total of 125 patients with no history of appendectomy who underwent non-contrast computed tomography scan in stone protocol for evaluation of their renal colic between March and August 2011 were included in this study and their images were reviewed.

Identification of normal appendix, its contents and location along with the adequacy of intraperitoneal fat were evaluated in both axial, coronal and sagittal planes. Results : normal appendices were visualized in 91.2 % of cases.

The most common location of appendiceal tip was paracolic, and the maximum outer diameter of the normal appendix ranged between 3 and 9mm (mean 5 ± 1.2 mm).

Intraperitoneal fat was adequate in 71% of the cases. Conclusion : most of normal appendices are seen on non-enhanced Multi Detector Computed Tomography scan in stone protocol as identification of normal appendix is critical to exclude the diagnosis of acute appendicitis among patients with right sided abdominal pain.