Assessing the Role of Care Location in Imaging for Appendicitis: A Comparative Study.

This article focuses on evaluating differences in initial imaging modalities used for pediatric appendicitis diagnosis based on the site of patient presentation, aiming to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. A retrospective review of 339 pediatric appendectomy cases at a single Children's Hospital (CH) from 2022 to 2024 found significantly higher computed tomography (CT) scan use at outside hospitals (OSH) compared to CH and affiliated sister hospitals (OSH-Sister), where ultrasound (US) was predominantly utilized. The study also observed that CT use modestly increased during off-hours at CH when pediatric radiology resources were limited, though this was not statistically significant. These findings highlight the need for standardized imaging protocols and enhanced pediatric radiology access across institutions to minimize radiation risks while maintaining diagnostic accuracy in pediatric appendicitis evaluation.