Appendicitis Diagnosis

• Examination+−

  Tap for details

  Right-lower-quadrant tenderness, guarding, pain with cough or movement, and peritoneal signs are assessed. Pelvic or retrocecal position can make the exam atypical. History, vitals, and change over time matter as much as a single image.

• Ultrasound and CT+−

  Tap for details

  Ultrasound avoids radiation and is a common first step in children and pregnancy — but the appendix is not always seen. Contrast CT improves accuracy in adults and can show appendicolith, abscess, or perforation. After inconclusive ultrasound in pregnancy, MRI is used in selected centers.

• Blood and urine+−

  Tap for details

  Raised white cells and CRP support inflammation but can be normal early and never diagnose alone. Urinalysis helps separate stone or UTI; mild urinary findings can still occur when the appendix sits near the bladder. Pregnancy testing is part of the work-up in reproductive-age patients.

• Scores and observation+−

  Tap for details · key note inside

  Scores such as Alvarado rank probability; they do not alone decide surgery. If the first picture is unclear, short-interval exam, repeat labs, and repeat imaging may be used. Ovarian pathology in women and gastroenteritis in children need care. High suspicion is not safely managed with “wait one more night at home.”

More chapters in this hub

• Appendicitis Symptoms

  What patients notice — and which warning signs need urgent care

• Causes of Appendicitis

  Lumen blockage, fecalith, and rare tumors

• Laparoscopic Appendectomy

  Laparoscopic surgery: what the procedure aims to do and who it fits

• Appendicitis Complications

  Patient education on complications in appendicitis