2023 Volume 39 Issue 1 Pages 35-40
In June 2017, the Japanese Society of Emergency Pediatrics published its “Guidelines for the Management of Acute Appendicitis in Children.” In these guidelines, ultrasonography was recommended as the preferred diagnostic imaging modality for children with acute appendicitis. Computed tomography, specifically contrast-enhanced computed tomography, was recommended as the second choice. This study investigated choices made with respect to diagnostic imaging for pediatric patients with suspected acute appendicitis and admitted to our hospital from 2013 to 2021. Participants comprised 280 patients, with 115 admitted before June 2017 and 165 admitted after. The number of patients for whom ultrasonography was selected as the preferred imaging method was significantly higher after June 2017 (12% vs 25%; p < 0.05), but the frequency of selecting contrast-enhanced computed tomography remained low (25% vs 18%; p = 0.48). With respect to selection of diagnostic imaging modalities, we cannot conclude that guidelines were recognized in actual clinical settings. Additional efforts appear necessary to effectively reduce childhood exposures to radiation.
