Which examination is better for diagnosing acute appendicitis?
The sensitivity and specificity of CT is slightly superior to that of US, and CT is better at demonstrating both a normal appendix and the extent of adjacent inflammatory changes. The disadvantages of CT are higher cost and the use of ionizing radiation and contrast material. US is highly operator dependent, but is usually a good first choice in children, pregnant women, and thin people. CT should be used for all other types of patients and is more effective in obese patients.