Characterization and quantification of fluid in the abdomen by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in children with clinical suspicion of appendicitis

Purpose While regarded as a secondary sign of pediatric appendicitis, the frequency of physiologic intra-abdominal fluid in children with suspected but absent appendicitis is unknown. Ex vivo: to assess the validity of US/MRI measurements of free fluid. In vivo: in suspected pediatric appendicitis, to assess the amount of abdominal fluid by US and MRI, determine performance characteristics of US in fluid detection and identify fluid volume ranges in confirmed appendicitis. Methods Ex vivo: criterion validity of US and MRI for fluid volume measurements was tested using tissue-mimicking phantoms filled with different volumes of distilled water. In vivo: all participants from a previous prospective study of suspected appendicitis were evaluated by US; MRI was performed after equivocal USs. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of abdominal fluid and correlation of fluid presence with appendicitis were performed. Results Ex vivo: no difference was found between phantom-fluid amount and measured volume using the formula for volume of an ellipsoid for US ( P =0.19) or MRI ( P =0.08). In vivo: intra-abdominal fluid was present in 212/591 (35.9%) patients; 75/212 patients with fluid (35.4%) had appendicitis, 60 (28.3%) had alternate diagnoses, and 77 (36.3%) had physiologic fluid. Sensitivity and specificity of US for fluid detection were 84% (95% CI 71–93) and 65% (95% CI 52–77), respectively. In children with versus without appendicitis, the respective ranges of fluid volume were 0.7–1148.8 ml and 0.8–318 ml. Conclusion The volume of an ellipsoid formula is a valid method for quantifying intra-abdominal fluid. The sole presence of intra-abdominal fluid on US does not support the diagnosis of pediatric appendicitis.