The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Editorial

The Art and Science of Diagnosing Acute Appendicitis

Authors: Mike K. Liang, MD

Abstract

In this month’s article by Adams et al, the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis comes full circle. Appendectomy for acute appendicitis remains one of the most common intra-abdominal surgeries performed in the United States. For Americans, the lifetime risk of developing appendicitis is 8.6% for males and 6.7% for females, and the lifetime risk of undergoing an appendectomy (all causes) is 12% for males and 23.1% for females.1

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References

1.Addiss DG, Shaffer N, Fowler BS, et al. The epidemiology of appendicitis and appendectomy in the United States. Am J Epidemiol 1990;132:910–925.
 
2.Jones K, Pena AA, Dunn EL, et al. Are negative appendectomies still acceptable. Am J Surg2004;188:748–754.
 
3.Flum DR, Koepsell T. The clinical and economic correlates of misdiagnosed appendicitis: nationwide analysis. Arch Surg 2002;137:799–804.
 
4.Rao PM, Rhea JT, Novelline RA, et al. Effect of computed tomography on of the appendix on treatment of patients and use of hospital resources. N Engl J Med 1998;338:141–146.
 
5.Wagner JM, McKinney P, Carpenter JL. Does this patient have appendicitis? JAMA 1996;276:1589–1594.