Retrospective Study
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World J Radiol. Dec 28, 2014; 6(12): 913-918
Published online Dec 28, 2014. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v6.i12.913
Can outer-to-outer diameter be used alone in diagnosing appendicitis on 128-slice MDCT?
Jamal Yaqoob, Muhammad Idris, Muhammad Shahbaz Alam, Nazia Kashif
Jamal Yaqoob, Muhammad Idris, Muhammad Shahbaz Alam, Department of Radiology, Dallah Hospital, Riyadh 11652, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Nazia Kashif, Resident Radiology Department, Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah, 523254 Benazirabad, Pakistan
Author contributions: Yaqoob J, Idris M and Kashif N contributed to the conception and design of study, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revising for important intellectual contents; Alam MS contributed to the design of study, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revising for important intellectual contents; all authors approval of revised version.
Correspondence to: Dr. Muhammad Idris, MBBS, FCPS, Senior Specialist Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Dallah Hospital, Fass Street, Al-Nakheel area, Riyadh 11652, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. idris.radiologist@gmail.com
Telephone: +966-1-2995555 Fax: +966-1-2995861
Received: June 2, 2014
Revised: October 24, 2014
Accepted: October 31, 2014
Published online: December 28, 2014
Processing time: 210 Days and 7.6 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: With recent advances in computed tomographic technology, there is improvement in quality of imaging with better spatial and contrast resolution, which has resulted in improved diagnosis and management of patients specially with acute appendicitis. In our institute 128-slice multidetector computed tomography installed last year, which improved our confidence of visualization of appendix. We reviewed our set of patients and looked specifically at outer-to-outer diameter of normal appendix which varied between 3 mm to 11 mm, these findings further emphasized that there is substantial variability in cutoff of normal appendiceal diameter which was up to 11 mm in our series. This further potentiated the fact that acute appendicitis can not be established solely on the base of diameter.