What is the radiology test of choice for Acute diverticulitis, and why is this the preferred test?
Hello Julienne,
I enjoyed your soap note and the entire presentation and to answer your question about testing of diverticulosis. The diagnosis of diverticulitis typically occurs after an acute episode. Abdominal pain can be a symptom of several conditions, so a doctor must investigate all possible
explanations. The first step in diagnosing abdominal pain is a thorough physical examination, which should always include palpating the patient's stomach. To rule out pelvic disease, a pelvic exam is also performed on female patients.
To confirm diverticulitis, a CT scan can detect the presence of inflamed or infected pouches. The degree of diverticulitis can also be determined and treated with the help of a CT scan. In the case of acute colonic diverticulitis, imaging examination serves to confirm the diagnosis, assess the severity and breadth of the disease, rule out other possible causes, and pave the way for treatment planning. Currently, CT scans are the gold standard for examining patients with acute diverticulitis. Despite CT's excellent precision and sensitivity/specificity, it has come under fire for the potential harm it poses to patients due to the radiation it emits.
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Qaseem,
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