1318 patients with a clinically equivocal diagnosis of appendicitis were evaluated using graded compression sonography. Sonographic (US) examination was performed in 1199 patients. A broad spectrum of diseases was detected in patients who eventually did not have acute appendicitis, including gastrointestinal (n=406), biliary (n=12), gynaecological (n=72), urological (n=12), and various others conditions (n=7). Appendicitis coinciding with another condition which itself could explain the patient’s symptoms was observed in 10 cases; in 5 of these, only the alternative disease was considered as the real cause of the patient’s complaints while the inflamed appendix was overlooked.

        Key words: ultrasound - ultrasonography - acute appendicitis - acute abdomen - alternative diagnosis