PLAIN FILM DIAGNOSIS IN INTUSSUSCEPTION

In early childhood intussusception a characteristic gas pattern is oft en visible on plain radiographs which can be used for diagnosis. To te st this hypothesis, radiographs of 163 children with intussusception, and as many controls, were reviewed. By using multivariable analysis, it appeared that five out of seven parameters (reduced amount of gas i n the jejunum; lateralization of the ileum; indiscernible caecum; redu ced amount of faeces in the colon; and visibility of the intussusceptu m) had discriminatory value. For each parameter a weighting (in points ) was derived and the patients were classified: the higher the score t he more likely that an intussusception was present. A sensitivity of 9 0% and a specificity of 90% were obtained.