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Case #1
Demographics: 8 years old, Male
Indication: Right lower quadrant pain

Case #1

Findings

  • Tubular, blind-ending structure in the right lower quadrant measuring 9 mm in diameter, which is noncompressible with mild wall thickening and mild mural hyperemia
  • Superficial to this is a 2 x 2.5 cm ovoid hypoechoic structure which appears separate from the adjacent bowel and shows no internal vascularity
  • Surrounding inflammatory changes in the right lower quadrant

Diagnosis

Appendicitis with periappendiceal abscess

Sample Report

Dilated appendix, measuring 9 mm in diameter, which is noncompressible with mild wall thickening and mild mural hyperemia, concerning for acute appendicitis.

Superficial to this is a 2 x 2.5 cm ovoid hypoechoic structure which appears separate from the adjacent bowel and shows no internal vascularity, concerning for a periappendiceal abscess.

Discussion

  • Remember that ultrasound is a good initial test in children and thin young adults
  • When assessing patients with appendicitis, make sure to look for complicating features such as periappendiceal abscess and evidence of perforation (including adjacent free air), as these may impact the nature and timing of intervention
  • An abscess should not have internal blood flow, but commonly will have peripheral hyperemia

Annotated Images & Illustrations

Dilated appendix with mild wall thickening (red arrows). Superficial to the appendix is a hypoechoic structure (yellow arrow), which did not show internal vascularity on color Doppler analysis and is concerning for an abscess.

Dilated appendix with mild wall thickening (red arrows). Superficial to the appendix is a hypoechoic structure (yellow arrow), which did not show internal vascularity on color Doppler analysis and is concerning for an abscess.

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