[Ultrasound appendix imaging in mucoviscidosis patients].

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the presentation of the appendix in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared to a healthy control group and patients with acute appendicitis using high resolution graded compression sonography.

METHOD

59 CF patients (mean age 11 years), 54 healthy children (mean age 9 years) and 322 patients with histologically proven acute appendicitis were evaluated by sonography. A blind ending tubular structure in longitudinal sections and a target-like figure in cross sections without peristalsis was considered as appendix. The maximum distance between the outer echolucent layers was calculated as diameter.

RESULTS

In 20%, 67% and 90% of the cases, the appendix was identified in the CF-group, healthy children, and patients with acute appendicitis. The mean diameters were 9.8, 3.9, and 10.9 mm respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001 and p < 0.012).

CONCLUSION

The appendiceal mucocele in cystic fibrosis is an uncommon but important differential diagnosis of the acute appendicitis.