1 Introduction --;2 Review of the Literature --;2.1 Anatomy --;2.2 Pathophysiology --;2.3 Epidemiology --;2.4 Clinical Diagnosis --;2.5 Recurrent Attacks of Acute Appendicitis --;2.6 The Problem of the Appendiceal Mass --;2.7 The False-Positive Clinical Diagnosis --;2.8 The False-Negative Clinical Diagnosis --;2.9 Differential Diagnosis --;2.10 Radiological Examinations --;2.11 Laparoscopy --;2.12 Ultrasound Examination --;3 Examination Technique --;3.1 Equipment --;3.2 Examination Technique --;3.3 Which Type of Transducer? --;4 Normal Ultrasound Anatomy of the Right Lower Abdomen --;5 Diagnosis of Appendicitis by Ultrasound --;5.1 Acute Appendicitis --;5.2 Abortive Appendicitis and Recurrent Acute Appendicitis --;5.3 Appendiceal Phlegmon and Appendiceal Abscess --;5.4 Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Drainage of the Appendiceal Abscess --;5.5 Pitfalls in the Ultrasound Diagnosis of Appendicitis --;5.6 The 'Negative' Ultrasound Examination --;6 Differential Diagnosis Using Ultrasound --;6.1 Bacterial Ileocaecitis --;6.2 Mesenteric Lymphadenitis --;6.3 Gynecological Conditions --;6.4 Caecal Diverticulitis --;6.5 Urological Conditions --;6.6 Perforated Peptic Ulcer --;6.7 Cholecystitis --;6.8 Caecal Carcinoma --;6.9 Crohn's Disease --;6.10 Sigmoid Diverticulitis --;6.11 Segmental Omental Infarction --;6.12 Other Conditions --;7 Indications and Clinical Impact --;References.
It is remarkable that until recently sonographic studies of the bowel have not reached the diagnostic level that sonography has attained for other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.