ST Alpha - "So I am wondering this because it has been coming up. Saying you go to the ER with appendicitis like symptoms. The surgeon says "it looks like you " (Reading a Post)

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So I am wondering this because it has been coming up. Saying you go to the ER with appendicitis like symptoms. The surgeon says "it looks like you

Posted by James Bond (aka Igor) (aka Igor) Apr 29 '12, 12:39

have appendicitis and we can take you to surgery now. But there is a 10% chance that you don't actually have an appendicitis. OR we can get a CT scan which will give us a better idea if you indeed have an appy."

So what would you do
1) Take the 90% chance that your history and physical exam point to an appy and go to surgery. Your appendix will be removed.
2) Get a CT scan which may or may not help diagnose your appy. CT scan will cost you more (probably $600, however I don't really know the actual cost) and it will expose you to radiation. Some predictive models show that people who get numerous CT scans have a higher risk of developing cancer.

Responses:

aren't there other than surgical options appendicitis? - Beaker Apr 29, 12:51 3
- You can do medical management (antibiotics) but it isn't really the standard of care. So in someone who you really don't want to take to surgery you - James Bond (aka Igor) Apr 29, 13:11 1
  - cool (we've always kinda questions the cancer treatment my father received so it is good to know. Thanks.) -- nm - Beaker Apr 29, 13:19
- When I was 12 (and docs still made house-calls) I was diagnosed with appendicitis. The doc treated me at home and - MojaveMeg Apr 29, 12:58
Surgery. And this actually already happened. Narrowly missed it asploding! -- nm - Qale Apr 29, 12:45
what would the alternative diagnosis be? -- nm - znufrii Apr 29, 12:44 2
- Could be something simple like a GI bug (CT will be normal) or could be some inflammation of the bowels overall. -- nm - James Bond (aka Igor) Apr 29, 12:49
- pay for the CT scan and find out! -- nm - pixitude Apr 29, 12:45
CT scan. my appendix came out in 1978 -- nm - peglegpete Apr 29, 12:44
I'd go for the surgery. -- nm - Krusty Apr 29, 12:41
if it's actually a 90% chance of appendicitis, surgery - pixitude Apr 29, 12:40 5
- Historically it has been shown to be 10% false positive. They would even have a saying something like "if you don't get a false positive then you - James Bond (aka Igor) Apr 29, 12:47 4
  - what are the odds of still developing appendicitis in the future? if it's more than 10%, still take the knife -- nm - pixitude Apr 29, 12:48 3
    - they think the appendix really does have a purpose, it is a resevoir of helpful bacteria, so when you get really bad food poisoning and your system.. - zeitgeist Apr 29, 13:39 1
      - That's my understanding, too. - TWuG Apr 29, 13:54
    - The incidence of acute appendicitis has been declining steadily since the late 1940s, and the current annual incidence is 10 cases per 100,000 - James Bond (aka Igor) Apr 29, 12:51
Which did Monty Hall offer me? -- nm - Reagen Apr 29, 12:40 1
- Two Hookers and a jelly bean or Door #2 -- nm - Epiphany Apr 29, 13:09

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So I am wondering this because it has been coming up. Saying you go to the ER with appendicitis like symptoms. The surgeon says "it looks like you

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