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Query: UMLS:C0085693 (acute appendicitis)
 3,606 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The vermiform appendix can be the site of development of diverticula which may suffer either inflammatory complications with or without appendicitis or may only be an incidental finding in an uninflamed appendix. This is a retrospective study of 10 of 575 cases of consecutive appendices removed and examined within a year, with single or multiple appendiceal diverticula with diverticulitis and peridiverticulitis. In six of the 10, the lumen of the appendix did not show any inflammatory changes. In conclusion, one could assume that inflammatory complications of the appendiceal diverticula, although they may mimic acute appendicitis, are quite distinct clinical entities. Acute appendicitis in the presence of appendiceal diverticula may carry an earlier and higher rate of perforation and appendiceal diverticula, as an incidental finding, may justify appendectomy on occasion.
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PMID:Diverticula of the vermiform appendix. Alternatives of clinical presentation and significance. 640 97

Ultrasonography has become widely accepted as a diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal diseases. It not only assesses the lumen but more importantly also the wall and the surrounding structures of the stomach and bowel. Furthermore, functional processes (peristalsis, blood flow) can be visualised and provide important information for passage and perfusion. Modern high resolution (compressive) sonography represents an ideal complementary method besides endoscopy for the gastroenterologist. It is used in emergency diagnosis in cases of acute appendicitis and peridiverticulitis. Here sonography is the method of first choice achieving a high sensitivity. The same applies to ileus, which can be diagnosed significantly earlier by sonography than with conventional X-ray methods. Meanwhile sonography can contribute considerable information to clarify pathogenesis (e. g., invagination, intususception). The detection of a perforation depends strongly on the competence of the examiner. The main advantage is the detection of a covered perforation and the genesis (e. g., ulcer). Ultrasound is less commonly considered in celiac sprue but important complementary information can be obtained. Advanced tumours of the gastrointestinal tract can easily be visualised, although early stages can hardly be detected by means of sonography. An accurate T-staging of tumours is not possible with transabdominal sonography, not least because some parts of the bowel (colon and rectum) cannot always and completely be seen. Exclusion of tumour or early detection is not possible by ultrasound. In intestinal diseases additional information besides clinical and endoscopic aspects can be achieved by ultrasound. Sonography is important for differential diagnosis and follow-up and spares the patient from more incriminatory endoscopic operations. Ultrasound is equal to other imaging methods in detecting complications (fistulas, abscess, stenosis). Due to the complexity of the topic the following review will concentrate on giving an idea of the present status of sonography in chronic inflammatory bowel disease, some less frequent intestinal infections (bacterial, pseudomembranous, neutropenic colitis, intestinal tuberculosis), the ischaemic bowel diseases as well as diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
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PMID:[Current status of ultrasound in gastroenterology--bowel and upper gastrointestinal tract--part 1]. 1759 90

Ultrasound has gained acceptance in the diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract beside the classical methods such as endoscopy and X-ray. In a previous publication we discussed the use of ultrasound in emergency diagnostics (e. g., acute appendicitis, diverticulitis/peridiverticulitis, ileus, invagination and perforation) (part 1). Because of the vast extent of this topic, in this overview we will focus on the current role of ultrasound in the detection and assessment of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, rare forms of colitis (e. g., bacterial, pseudomembranous and neutropenic colitis as well as intestinal tuberculosis), ischaemic bowel diseases as well as diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. In chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, ultrasound can give important additional information such as extension, activity, complication (fistula, abscess, stenosis) and in differential diagnosis. It plays an important role in follow-up investigations and can possibly reduce the number of endoscopic examinations. There is still some debate going on about the significance of colour Doppler ultrasound in assessing the activity and differentiation of stenosis. Furthermore, ultrasound is used as a method to guide interventional therapies for abscesses (puncture and drainage). Colour Doppler ultrasound can diagnose ischaemic bowel diseases and also differentiate these from other aetiologies. Ultrasound plays a greater role in the follow-up and assessment of chronic intestinal ischaemia. In the diagnosis of stomach diseases under favourable conditions ultrasound can show changes of the stomach wall, tumours, ulcers and their complication (perforation, penetration) and disturbances of the motility. But an exclusion is not possible.
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PMID:[Current status of ultrasound in gastroenterology--bowel and upper gastrointestinal tract--part 2]. 1839 55