The use of computed tomography versus clinical acumen in diagnosing appendicitis in children: A two-institution international study

Comparative study of 1,952 children across US and Spanish hospitals reveals clinical examination and ultrasound achieve 95% diagnostic accuracy for appendicitis without heavy CT reliance. US center used CT in 58.5% of cases versus 2.9% in Spain, suggesting overreliance on imaging may be replacing physical examination skills in North American practice.