Effect of contrast-enhanced computed tomography on diagnosis and management of acute abdomen in adults.

Aim: To determine the impact of computed tomography (CT) on the diagnosis and treatment plan in patients with acute abdominal pain.
Materials and Methods: A prospective study was undertaken in 125 adult patients presenting with acute abdominal pain (74 men and 51 women; 40.2 +/- 19.3 years; range, 18-92). Changes in diagnosis, gain in percentage diagnostic certainty and changes of treatment plan of the surgeons in the emergency department before and after CT were evaluated. Pre- and post-CT diagnoses were compared with the final diagnoses.
Results: CT findings changed the initial diagnosis in 40 (32.0%) patients. The diagnostic certainty was 58.3 +/- 22.9% before CT, and its gain after CT was 21.9 +/- 18.5 points (P < 0.0001). Post-CT diagnoses were consistent with the final diagnosis in 116 patients (92.8%), while pre-CT diagnoses were correct in 89 patients (71.2%; P < 0.0001). Initial treatment plans were changed in 31 (24.8%) patients after CT. In 57 (45.6%) patients, CT information changed diagnoses and/or treatment plans. No significant differences were observed in the diagnosis, diagnostic certainty and treatment plan among four surgeons.
Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced CT frequently changed the clinical diagnoses with increased diagnostic certainty and the initial treatment plans.
(Copyright 2002 The Royal College of Radiologists.)