ASSESSMENT OF THE DIAGNOSTIC PRECISION OF NON-CONTRAST COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN CASES OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS

Objective: This study was conducted with the purpose of comparing the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography and non-contrast computed tomography in cases of acute appendicitis. Methods: The research was performed at the Department of Radiology of SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University, Vadodara from September 2023 to September 2024. In this prospective investigation, 30 consecutive patients exhibiting clinical signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis were assessed using sonography (graded compression technique) and CT (unenhanced helical CT [5-mm section thickness]). The outcomes were compared with surgical results. Results: At surgery, twenty-nine patients were diagnosed with acute appendicitis, while one patient was not. The sensitivity rates for NCCT and sonography were 86. 2% and 62. 1%, respectively; specicity rates were 100% and 0%; accuracy rates were 86. 7% and 60. 0%; positive predictive values were 100% and 94. 7%. Conclusion: Unenhanced focused single-detector helical CT and graded compression sonography performed in a general community teaching hospital indicate that NCCT has superior accuracy for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.