eMedicine Specialties > General Surgery > Abdomen

Appendicitis: Multimedia

Author: Luigi Santacroce, MD, Assistant Professor, Medical School, State University at Bari, Italy
Coauthor(s): Juan B Ochoa, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 1, 2009

Multimedia

Normal appendix; barium enema radiographic examin...
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Media file 1: Normal appendix; barium enema radiographic examination. A complete contrast-filled appendix is observed (arrows), which effectively excludes the diagnosis of appendicitis.
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Normal appendix; barium enema radiographic examin...

Normal appendix; barium enema radiographic examination. A complete contrast-filled appendix is observed (arrows), which effectively excludes the diagnosis of appendicitis.

Computed tomography scan reveals an enlarged appe...
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Media file 2: Computed tomography scan reveals an enlarged appendix with thickened walls, which do not fill with colonic contrast agent, lying adjacent to the right psoas muscle.
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Computed tomography scan reveals an enlarged appe...

Computed tomography scan reveals an enlarged appendix with thickened walls, which do not fill with colonic contrast agent, lying adjacent to the right psoas muscle.

Computed tomography (CT) study of appendicitis. I...
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Media file 3: Computed tomography (CT) study of appendicitis. Intravenous (IV) contrast was administered to the patient, who had gram-negative sepsis but no abdominal pain on examination. Left, an inconclusive CT scan after administration of oral contrast but no IV contrast. Right, a repeat CT scan study following administration of IV contrast demonstrates the thickened, enhanced appendiceal wall and periappendiceal changes. The retrocecal location of the appendix may have attenuated abdominal symptoms.
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Computed tomography (CT) study of appendicitis. I...

Computed tomography (CT) study of appendicitis. Intravenous (IV) contrast was administered to the patient, who had gram-negative sepsis but no abdominal pain on examination. Left, an inconclusive CT scan after administration of oral contrast but no IV contrast. Right, a repeat CT scan study following administration of IV contrast demonstrates the thickened, enhanced appendiceal wall and periappendiceal changes. The retrocecal location of the appendix may have attenuated abdominal symptoms.

Suppurative appendicitis; transverse view, color ...
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Media file 4: Suppurative appendicitis; transverse view, color Doppler ultrasound image. Circumferential colors are observed in the wall of the inflamed appendix (arrows), a strong indicator of acute appendicitis.
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Suppurative appendicitis; transverse view, color ...

Suppurative appendicitis; transverse view, color Doppler ultrasound image. Circumferential colors are observed in the wall of the inflamed appendix (arrows), a strong indicator of acute appendicitis.

Technetium-99m radionuclide scan of the abdomen s...
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Media file 5: Technetium-99m radionuclide scan of the abdomen shows focal uptake of labeled white blood cells in the right lower quadrant, a finding that is consistent with acute appendicitis.
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Technetium-99m radionuclide scan of the abdomen s...

Technetium-99m radionuclide scan of the abdomen shows focal uptake of labeled white blood cells in the right lower quadrant, a finding that is consistent with acute appendicitis.

Sagittal graded compression transabdominal ultras...
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Media file 6: Sagittal graded compression transabdominal ultrasonogram shows an acutely inflamed appendix. The tubular structure is noncompressible, lacks peristalsis, and measures greater than 6 mm in diameter. A thin rim of periappendiceal fluid is present.
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Sagittal graded compression transabdominal ultras...

Sagittal graded compression transabdominal ultrasonogram shows an acutely inflamed appendix. The tubular structure is noncompressible, lacks peristalsis, and measures greater than 6 mm in diameter. A thin rim of periappendiceal fluid is present.

Transverse graded compression transabdominal ultr...
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Media file 7: Transverse graded compression transabdominal ultrasonogram of an acutely inflamed appendix. Note the targetlike appearance due to thickened wall and surrounding loculated fluid collection.
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Transverse graded compression transabdominal ultr...

Transverse graded compression transabdominal ultrasonogram of an acutely inflamed appendix. Note the targetlike appearance due to thickened wall and surrounding loculated fluid collection.

More on Appendicitis

Overview: Appendicitis
Workup: Appendicitis
Treatment: Appendicitis
Follow-up: Appendicitis
Multimedia: Appendicitis
References
Further Reading
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References

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Keywords

appendicitis, appendix, appendectomy, appendix pain, symptoms of appendicitis, appendix symptoms, appendicitis signs, appendix side, human appendix, abdominal pain, appendicitis children, appendix surgery, after appendectomy, acute appendicitis, acute abdominal pain, perforated appendix, peritonitis, appendix inflammation, acute inflammation of the appendix, appendiceal lumen, vermiform appendix, typhlitis, lymphoid hyperplasia, irritable bowel disease, IBD, fecal stasis, fecaliths, lymphoid hyperplasia of the appendix, obstruction of the appendiceal lumen, periappendicular abscess

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Luigi Santacroce, MD, Assistant Professor, Medical School, State University at Bari, Italy
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Juan B Ochoa, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Oscar Joe Hines, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine
Oscar Joe Hines, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Michael A Grosso, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Francis Hospital
Michael A Grosso, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and Society of University Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Paolo Zamboni, MD, Professor of Surgery, Chief of Day Surgery Unit, Chair of Vascular Diseases Center, University of Ferrara, Italy
Paolo Zamboni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Venous Forum and New York Academy of Sciences
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

John Geibel, MD, DSc, MA, Vice Chairman, Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Gastrointestinal Medicine and Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Director of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital
John Geibel, MD, DSc, MA is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Physiological Society, American Society of Nephrology, Association for Academic Surgery, International Society of Nephrology, New York Academy of Sciences, and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
Disclosure: AMGEN Royalty Other

 
 
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