Researchers from the Washington University's School of Medicine in St Louis found that children suspected of having appendicitis are more likely to receive CT scans, which involve radiations.
Use of either scanning technique can potentially reduce the occurrence of unnecessary surgeries and expedite the diagnosis of appendicitis. But recent reports have suggested that the radiation exposures in CT scans can significantly increase children's lifetime cancer risk.
"Appendicitis is a very tough diagnosis, because its symptoms overlap with viral infections and other problems," said researcher Jacqueline Saito.
"We don't want to operate when the appendix is fine, but if we wait too long, an inflamed appendix can rupture or perforate, making recovery more complicated and much slower," Saito said in a statement.
The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch that extends from the large intestine. Infection or blockage of the appendix causes appendicitis, which can lead to abdominal pain, vomiting and fever.
Saito and her colleagues analysed case records of 423 children who had appendectomies, or surgery to remove the appendix.
In 218 patients initially evaluated at Children's Hospital and 205 at general hospitals, researchers reviewed how the patients were evaluated for appendicitis and whether the surgery's results confirmed the diagnosis.
CT scans, which take X-ray images from multiple angles, have been the primary diagnostic scan for detecting appendicitis for many years.
About 85 per cent of children initially evaluated at a general hospital underwent preoperative CT scans, and 45 per cent of children initially seen at St Louis Children's Hospital had CT scans.
Using ultrasound to detect appendicitis has recently become more frequent, over half of children initially seen at St Louis Children's Hospital, compared to 20 per cent at general hospitals, had preoperative ultrasound.
