Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does This CT Scan Report Indicate?
Question: I had a CT scan done due to belly pain the CT scan said impression accute appendicitis then a team of doctors and surgeons came in and didn't think it was my Appendix they kept me over night to watch and redo labs as first set of labs my white blood count was 15.7 the following day pain had went down tremendously and white blood count return to normal 9.1 then a doctor.comes in and said I'm.sorry you got the wrong DX in the emergency room but there is nothing wrong with your appendix my bowels has return to normal when in begining it was yellow and watery never had a fever no pain left with very little tenderness in left side area I even got up in the tub and jumped down and it caused no pain I still have a little tenderness I can bend my knees up and I do have a little stretchy feeling so my questions are is the impression what you have or what the radiologist thinks the problem is 2) could it have busted and the pain is no longer there
My discharge papers read gastroenteritis please help it's causing me to have panic attacks
My discharge papers read gastroenteritis please help it's causing me to have panic attacks
Brief Answer:
Gastroenteritis
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking HCM.
I have read your medical report and my answer is as follows:
In the CT, probably the radiologist saw presence of inflammation and his/her diagnosis was appendicitis.
Your lab tests shows high white blood count,it shows infection.
Even gastroenteritis is an infection and even in this case the white blood cells count will be elevated.
But before any surgeon does a surgery, he needs to visit the patient first (do a physical exam at his/her abdomen), the way the abdomen and the body of the patients react according to his exam.
Also location of the pain is important. Usually it starts as a discomfort in the stomach area and than it "migrates" in the right lower quadrant.
Fever is also important in the diagnosis of the appendicitis. Appendicitis usually causes a fever between 99°F (37.2°C) and 100.5°F (38°C)
According to your medical reports, and your symptoms i think that you did not have appendicitis and the surgeons did the right thing to not do the surgery.
If by any chance the appendix had burst, then any patients will be in serious conditions. He/she would be having peritonitis, a life threatening condition. The patients will have some of these following symptoms-
-inability to pass gas
-low blood pressure most of the times
-lack of appetite
-nausea and vomiting
-low urine output
-cold, clammy, pale skin
-rapid breathing
-a lot of pain in all over the abdomen
-tenderness of the abdomen
So, I don't think that you have a burst appendix. Your doctors in my opinion are right, probably you had gastroenteritis and with the treatment all the symptoms will go away in a couple of days.
If you have any other question, feel free to contact me.
Wish you good health.
Dr.Endri Katro
Gastroenteritis
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking HCM.
I have read your medical report and my answer is as follows:
In the CT, probably the radiologist saw presence of inflammation and his/her diagnosis was appendicitis.
Your lab tests shows high white blood count,it shows infection.
Even gastroenteritis is an infection and even in this case the white blood cells count will be elevated.
But before any surgeon does a surgery, he needs to visit the patient first (do a physical exam at his/her abdomen), the way the abdomen and the body of the patients react according to his exam.
Also location of the pain is important. Usually it starts as a discomfort in the stomach area and than it "migrates" in the right lower quadrant.
Fever is also important in the diagnosis of the appendicitis. Appendicitis usually causes a fever between 99°F (37.2°C) and 100.5°F (38°C)
According to your medical reports, and your symptoms i think that you did not have appendicitis and the surgeons did the right thing to not do the surgery.
If by any chance the appendix had burst, then any patients will be in serious conditions. He/she would be having peritonitis, a life threatening condition. The patients will have some of these following symptoms-
-inability to pass gas
-low blood pressure most of the times
-lack of appetite
-nausea and vomiting
-low urine output
-cold, clammy, pale skin
-rapid breathing
-a lot of pain in all over the abdomen
-tenderness of the abdomen
So, I don't think that you have a burst appendix. Your doctors in my opinion are right, probably you had gastroenteritis and with the treatment all the symptoms will go away in a couple of days.
If you have any other question, feel free to contact me.
Wish you good health.
Dr.Endri Katro
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
And still some nauseated what's that from.or.could be from.the Appendix ?
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Even in the case of gastroenteritis you might have nausea and even vomiting, so it is not a specific sign of appendicitis.
As I've mentioned above, your symptoms correlates more with the diagnosis of gastroenteritis.
Every surgeon, thinks twice before sending at home a patients with acute appendicitis without doing thorough investigations and/ the surgery.
The physical exam is one of the most important procedures in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and even peritonitis.
Remember this: Every patient with acute appendicitis/peritonitis gets worse with the passing of every hour. Don't worry.
If you have any other question, don't hesitate to contact me.
Dr.Endri Katro
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Even in the case of gastroenteritis you might have nausea and even vomiting, so it is not a specific sign of appendicitis.
As I've mentioned above, your symptoms correlates more with the diagnosis of gastroenteritis.
Every surgeon, thinks twice before sending at home a patients with acute appendicitis without doing thorough investigations and/ the surgery.
The physical exam is one of the most important procedures in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and even peritonitis.
Remember this: Every patient with acute appendicitis/peritonitis gets worse with the passing of every hour. Don't worry.
If you have any other question, don't hesitate to contact me.
Dr.Endri Katro
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Gastroenteritis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Bentyl, as you have mentioned is used to reduce the symptoms of stomach and intestinal cramping.
Zofran (Ondansetron) blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that can trigger nausea and vomiting.
Gastronenteritis doesn't always mean a bacterial infection and for this reason, when bacterial infection is ruled out, then no need to use antibiotics.
Bacterial infection has mucus,blood etc. in your stools. Since you didn't have diarrhea for long hours or days, it wasn't necessary to add other types of medication.
Now, according to the dose of medication that you are taking at half, if you don't have nausea or vomiting, then no need to take zofran anymore. You can keep using bentyl for your cramps.
Your body will heal itself, so just need to give it a couple of days. Have plenty of liquids, soup, fresh fruits, vegetables. Eat healthy and all the symptoms will vanish probably in 2 or 3 days, or even less.
Wishing you good health.
Dr.Endri Katro
Gastroenteritis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Bentyl, as you have mentioned is used to reduce the symptoms of stomach and intestinal cramping.
Zofran (Ondansetron) blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that can trigger nausea and vomiting.
Gastronenteritis doesn't always mean a bacterial infection and for this reason, when bacterial infection is ruled out, then no need to use antibiotics.
Bacterial infection has mucus,blood etc. in your stools. Since you didn't have diarrhea for long hours or days, it wasn't necessary to add other types of medication.
Now, according to the dose of medication that you are taking at half, if you don't have nausea or vomiting, then no need to take zofran anymore. You can keep using bentyl for your cramps.
Your body will heal itself, so just need to give it a couple of days. Have plenty of liquids, soup, fresh fruits, vegetables. Eat healthy and all the symptoms will vanish probably in 2 or 3 days, or even less.
Wishing you good health.
Dr.Endri Katro
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
my doctor did blood work today and rechecked the wbc and the results are back in he also ordered a ultrasound of my stomach will test work in either confirming the CT scan or not ? attached is 2 files from visit
My stools have pretty much went back to normal I have been able to pass some gas pain scale is basically none it's tenderness instead I notice some tenderness on the side and back all on right side I feel alot of fear and I'm scared I'm still very pukey feeling and I haven't felt like eating but I have ate a little here and there and didn't cause me no pain just make the nausea a little worse I did notice when I calmed my nerves that eased up some I'm just scared as to why the radiologist put impression acute appendixsitise when everyone else thinks it's Gastroenteritis why didn't he say it could be acute appendixsitise or gastroenteritis will this ultrasound show if my appendix is bad if it is ?? Please talk to me I am scared so bad I can't think I keep thinking the worse spells of crying
My stools have pretty much went back to normal I have been able to pass some gas pain scale is basically none it's tenderness instead I notice some tenderness on the side and back all on right side I feel alot of fear and I'm scared I'm still very pukey feeling and I haven't felt like eating but I have ate a little here and there and didn't cause me no pain just make the nausea a little worse I did notice when I calmed my nerves that eased up some I'm just scared as to why the radiologist put impression acute appendixsitise when everyone else thinks it's Gastroenteritis why didn't he say it could be acute appendixsitise or gastroenteritis will this ultrasound show if my appendix is bad if it is ?? Please talk to me I am scared so bad I can't think I keep thinking the worse spells of crying
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Since your white blood cell count is back at normal,it means your body reacted as it was supposed to do. It means there are no signs of infection in your body any more.
It is normal to feel some tenderness,because your body needs more time to heal. If you have still nausea,you can use Zofran as was prescribed by your doctor.
Passing stools and gas,it's another good sign.
The radiologist,saw some inflammation in the place where appendix is. He describes what he see. In gastroenteritis there are no specific signs in CT. So he could not put this diagnosis on the table.
The surgeons,after looking at all the tests + physical examination,can tell if the signs are for appendicitis and need surgery,or signs of gastroenteritis,or other problem...
An ultrasound today,will give a lot of information about your intestines,the appendix and if there is any fluid or not in your abdomen.
Most of your symptoms are gone away. This is a good sign,that you have nothing to worry. But after the ultrasound of today,contact me again if you have more questions.
Withing you good health.
Dr.Endri Katro
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Since your white blood cell count is back at normal,it means your body reacted as it was supposed to do. It means there are no signs of infection in your body any more.
It is normal to feel some tenderness,because your body needs more time to heal. If you have still nausea,you can use Zofran as was prescribed by your doctor.
Passing stools and gas,it's another good sign.
The radiologist,saw some inflammation in the place where appendix is. He describes what he see. In gastroenteritis there are no specific signs in CT. So he could not put this diagnosis on the table.
The surgeons,after looking at all the tests + physical examination,can tell if the signs are for appendicitis and need surgery,or signs of gastroenteritis,or other problem...
An ultrasound today,will give a lot of information about your intestines,the appendix and if there is any fluid or not in your abdomen.
Most of your symptoms are gone away. This is a good sign,that you have nothing to worry. But after the ultrasound of today,contact me again if you have more questions.
Withing you good health.
Dr.Endri Katro
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
At the hospital still waiting they have done a bunch of blood work and the ultrasound sadly the ultrasound didn't and wasn't able to show my appendix reasoning gave was the way it lays towards the back is this a bad thing ?
Brief Answer:
Retrocecal appendix
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Appendix in our body has a lot of positions and one of those is retrocecal position where the appendix lays towards our back. It is a normal position for a lot of healthy persons. It is not always a bad thing.
In some occasions it doesn't have the "classic" symptoms,and it might be a little harder to diagnose.
Since the ultrasound didn't reveal anything (including inflammation in the ileocecal junction where the appendix is in the intestine) then this is a good sign.
But we need to wait for blood results also.
What is more important is how you feel, if you have any more pain, fever, diarrhea,vomiting....in few words if you have symptoms or not.
For every question, don't hesitate to contact me, I'm always here for help.
Dr.Endri Katro
Retrocecal appendix
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Appendix in our body has a lot of positions and one of those is retrocecal position where the appendix lays towards our back. It is a normal position for a lot of healthy persons. It is not always a bad thing.
In some occasions it doesn't have the "classic" symptoms,and it might be a little harder to diagnose.
Since the ultrasound didn't reveal anything (including inflammation in the ileocecal junction where the appendix is in the intestine) then this is a good sign.
But we need to wait for blood results also.
What is more important is how you feel, if you have any more pain, fever, diarrhea,vomiting....in few words if you have symptoms or not.
For every question, don't hesitate to contact me, I'm always here for help.
Dr.Endri Katro
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
no vomiting but nausea also blood work came back she said the wbc was normal and the blood work for inflammation was also normal she said everything was normal she pulled up the film's from the c scan and showed me and said that if she seen it she would have thought acute appendixsitise but as you look close the whole appendix wasn't inflamed but the part closet to the colon was and then she showed me to more areas and said all that is inflamed also I said what is that she said your bowels which is the colon Gastroenteritis and said it look like a war field when I ask what she thinks a CT scan would show now she said with out a second thought oh I believe it would be alot better then mo days so your thoughts please
Brief Answer:
Follow up..
Detailed Answer:
It is a good sign that the white blood cells count are backto nomal. Also the blood test for inflamation (probably PCR test or eritrosedyment ) negative means that in your body right now are no signs if inflamation.
Most of the symptoms have vanished. Only some nausea. I would rule out appendicitis so you need not to worry.
I don't think that you need a CT right now. But if it whelps you to not to be worried any more,than i say go for it.It has a minimal dose of radiation and will not harm your body too much.
If you have any other question,don't hesitate to conact me.
Dr.Endri Katro
Follow up..
Detailed Answer:
It is a good sign that the white blood cells count are backto nomal. Also the blood test for inflamation (probably PCR test or eritrosedyment ) negative means that in your body right now are no signs if inflamation.
Most of the symptoms have vanished. Only some nausea. I would rule out appendicitis so you need not to worry.
I don't think that you need a CT right now. But if it whelps you to not to be worried any more,than i say go for it.It has a minimal dose of radiation and will not harm your body too much.
If you have any other question,don't hesitate to conact me.
Dr.Endri Katro
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
