Fig. 1A.33-year-old man who presented with 2-day history of right
lower quadrant pain. CT scan obtained at presentation using soft-tissue window
setting was interpreted as revealing only tubular structure with wall
thickening. Appendicolith (arrow) was easily mistaken for
intraluminal barium. Diagnosis of appendicitis was equivocal.
Fig. 1B.33-year-old man who presented with 2-day history of right
lower quadrant pain. CT scan obtained with bone window setting reveals
distinct intraluminal appendicolith (arrow).
Fig. 2A.22-year-old man with pain in and guarding of right lower
quadrant. CT scan obtained with soft-tissue window setting shows nonspecific
inflammatory changes in right side of pelvis. Appendicolith was misinterpreted
as intraluminal barium, and tubular structure (arrows) was thought to
represent unopacified bowel loop.
Fig. 2B.22-year-old man with pain in and guarding of right lower
quadrant. CT scan obtained with bone window setting reveals appendicolith
(arrow) obstructing dilated appendix, which was source of patient's
pain.
Fig. 3A.68-year-old woman who presented to emergency department with
abdominal pain. CT scan obtained at presentation using soft-tissue window
setting reveals only inflammatory changes (arrows) in right upper
pelvis with no appendicolith.
Fig. 3B.68-year-old woman who presented to emergency department with
abdominal pain. CT scan obtained using bone window setting reveals
appendicolith with rim calcification (arrow) clearly distinguishable
from barium and surrounding inflammation.
Fig. 4A.52-year-old woman who presented to emergency department with
abdominal pain. CT scan obtained at presentation using soft-tissue window
setting reveals fluid- and barium-filled loops of small bowel with no findings
to support clinical diagnosis of appendicitis.
Fig. 4B.52-year-old woman who presented to emergency department with
abdominal pain. Same CT image as in A obtained with bone window setting
reveals dilated appendix with small proximal appendicolith (arrow)
that was mistaken for barium in small-bowel loop.