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A Sometimes Significant But Nonspecific Diagnostic Sign

Hubert A. Shaffer, Jr, MD; R. Brent Harrison, MD

Arch Surg. 1979;114(5):587-589.

Abstract
• The gas-filled appendix is an uncommon roentgenographic sign that has been considered to be virtually diagnostic of acute appendicitis when the appendix is positioned caudad to the cecum in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Three patients had gas in the appendix in the absence of acute appendicitis. This diagnostic sign is therefore not specific for appendicitis. Regardless of its location, the appendix may contain gas despite the absence of intrinsic disease.

(Arch Surg 114:587-589, 1979)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Radiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Oct 16, 1978.

Reprint requests to Department of Radiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908 (Dr Shaffer).

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