OBJECTIVE: The clinical usefulness of routine, nonfocused helical CT was evaluated in diagnosing @entity697 or providing an alternative diagnosis in @entity1 presenting to the emergency department with acute lower @entity490 . MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed CT reports and clinical records of 650 consecutive adult @entity1 who presented between January 1996 and December 2000 with right lower @entity158 or lower @entity490 and clinical findings suggestive of @entity698 . Helical CT was performed with oral contrast material in 610 cases (93.8%) and IV contrast in 572 cases (88.0%). Both vascular and enteric contrast media were administered in 544 cases (83.7%). Rectal contrast material was administered in 52 cases (8.0%). The abdomen was helically scanned from the dome of the diaphragm to the iliac crests with a collimation of 7 mm, from the iliac crests to the acetabular roof at a 5-mm collimation, from the acetabular roof to the symphysis pubis with a collimation of 5-10 mm. The surgical or clinical record was used for follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 650 @entity1 , 552 (84.9%) had adequate clinical follow-up. There were 137 true-positive, eight false-positive, five false-negative, and 402 true-negative cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of nonfocused helical CT were 96.5%, 98.0%, 97.6%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 94.5% and 98.8%, respectively. In @entity1 without @entity697 , CT suggested an alternative diagnosis, which clinically explained the @entity1 's acute @entity490 in 266 @entity1 (66.2%). CONCLUSION: Nonfocused helical CT was highly accurate in diagnosing @entity697 or suggesting an alternative diagnosis in @entity1 with acute lower @entity490 or right lower @entity158 .

Accuracy of nonfocused helical CT for the diagnosis of XXXX : a 5-year review.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity697 :: ('MESH:D000208', 'Disease') :: ['acute appendicitis'] @entity698 :: ('MESH:D001064', 'Disease') :: ['appendicitis'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['quadrant pain'] @entity490 :: ('MESH:D015746', 'Disease') :: ['abdominal pain']
@entity697 :: (MESH:D000208,Disease) :: ['acute appendicitis']
