Assessment of Acute Abdominal Pain: Utility of a Second Cross-sectional Imaging Examination

Purpose: To retrospectively determine how often a second cross-sectional imaging examination provides useful additional information or alters management of acute abdominal pain. Materials and Methods: The research ethics board approved this study; the informed consent requirement was waived. Authors assessed imaging reports and clinical charts of adult patients who presented to the emergency department and underwent both computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) of the abdomen within 72 hours. A total of 255 patients fulfilled study criteria. The second examination was categorized as providing additional useful information, providing no additional useful information, or providing contradictory information. It was also noted whether the second examination was recommended because of findings of the first and whether the results of the second altered clinical management. Follow-up was available in 149 patients, and a definitive diagnosis was established. For these patients, it was determined whether ...