根據近期對計算機斷層掃描檢查的研究結果，研究人員設計了一個模型來預測急性闌尾炎的嚴重程度。

Mayo診所的科學家檢查了105例年齡在15歲～69歲進行腹部CT檢查后3天內接受闌尾切除手術的患者資料。對CT掃描結果與急性闌尾炎實際嚴重程度進行了比較。研究證實了CT結果與急性闌尾炎闌尾實際病變有相關性。這些結果被用來設計一個模型，當與額外CT檢測聯合使用的時候，能夠幫助確定高度疑似急性闌尾炎的治療方案。

研究人員得出結論，研究達到了在不遠的將來設計出預測模型的目標，能夠根據疾病的組織學嚴重程度預測來對此類患者進行分層。這些研究結果為隨后的前瞻性臨床試驗提供了基礎，將使用預測性分層來確定手術干預時間的選擇。

這項研究發表在2004年11月的《外科檔案期刊》上。
 
CT Can Predict Severity of Appendicitis
 
Based on recent computed tomography (CT) findings, researchers have devised a model to predict the severity of acute appendicitis.

Scientists at the Mayo Clinic (Scottsdale, AZ, USA) examined 105 patients between the ages of 15 and 69 who underwent an appendectomy within three days after having an abdominal CT. Results of the CT scans were compared with the actual severity of acute appendicitis. The study demonstrated that CT gave results correlating with the actual condition of the appendix in acute appendicitis. These results were utilized to devise a model that could, when used in combination with additional CT measurements, help determine the best treatment course in patients strongly suspected of having acute appendicitis.

The researchers concluded that the study accomplished the goal of devising a predictive model that, in the near future, may help stratify such patients based on prediction of the histologic severity of the disease. It provides a foundation for a subsequent prospective trial that will use predictive stratification that will determine the need for and timing of operative intervention.

The study was published in the December 2004 issue of the journal The Archives of Surgery.