Tomography findings of cases of acute abdominal pain applying to Akdeniz University hospital emergency department

The purpose of this study was to evaluate abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings of patients applying to emergency department with acute abdominal pain. Clinical findings and CT images of 250 patients who applied to the emergency department of our institution and had abdominal CT imaging performed between May 2013 and October 2013 were retrospectively assessed. Patients with penetrating and blunt injuries were excluded from the study. Patient ages varied between 16 and 90, with an average of 43,35. 145 patients (58%) were female and 105 were (42%) male. In 85 patients (34%) no pathology that could explain the pain was detected. The most common pathology observed on CT was acute appendicitis, being found in 29 patients (11%). Sensitivity and specificity of CT for acute appendicitis was calculated as 77% and 96% respectively. Out of 53 patients who had histopathological confirmation of their diagnosis, 43 (81,1%) had CT diagnoses compatible with final diagnoses. CT is a fast and efficient imaging modality for evaluation of patients applying with acute abdominal pain. Our study demonstrates the importance of CT for surgical or medical management and treatment decisions