Is appendiceal CT scan overused for evaluating patients with right lower quadrant pain?

Reports citing excellent sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy of focused appendiceal computed tomography (CT) and showing an overall redu ction in resource use and nontherapeutic laparotomies have led to increasin g use of that imaging modality. Diagnostic algorithms have begun to incorpo rate appendiceal CT for patients presenting to the emergency department wit h right lower quadrant pain, We present a series of 4 cases in which use of appendiceal CT ultimately led to increased cost, resource use, and complex ity in patient care, The results of these cases support an argument against unbridled use of appendiceal CT scanning and reinforce the need for clinic al evaluation by the operating surgeon before routine performance of append iceal CT scan. (Am J Emerg Med 2001;19:199-203, Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company).