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<article class="dk-content">
<h1 itemprop="name">Diagnosis of Appendicitis</h1>
<div class="health-detail-content">
<h2>How do doctors diagnose appendicitis?</h2>
<p>To diagnose appendicitis, your doctor will review your <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/appendicitis/symptoms-causes">symptoms</a>&nbsp;and medical history, perform a physical exam, and order lab tests and imaging tests.</p>
<h3>Medical history</h3>
<p>Your doctor will ask questions to help rule out other health problems. Your doctor will want to know</p>
<ul>
<li>when your abdominal pain began, how bad it feels, and where exactly you feel it</li>
<li>when your other symptoms started</li>
<li>what other medical conditions, illnesses, and operations youve had</li>
<li>whether you use medicines or alcohol</li>
</ul>
<h3>Physical exam</h3>
<p>During the physical exam, your doctor will check for pain in your lower-right abdomen. Your doctor may</p>
<ul>
<li>gently press or jiggle all areas of your abdomen</li>
<li>press your right knee as you lift your leg</li>
<li>flex and rotate your leg while you lie on your left side</li>
</ul>
<p>Your doctor may also</p>
<ul>
<li>listen to your abdomen using a stethoscope</li>
<li>do a <a href="/Dictionary/D/digital-rectal-exam" class="dictionary-term">digital rectal exam</a></li>
<li>do a <a href="/Dictionary/P/pelvic-exam" class="dictionary-term">pelvic exam</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Lab tests</h3>
<p>To find out whether your abdominal pain is appendicitis or not, your doctor may order a</p>
<ul>
<li>blood test, which may show if you have a high white blood cell count—a sign of infection. Your blood test also may show if you have <a href="/Dictionary/D/dehydration" class="dictionary-term">dehydration</a>&nbsp;or if any fluids or <a href="/Dictionary/E/electrolytes" class="dictionary-term">electrolytes</a>&nbsp;are out of balance.</li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/c-reactive-protein-crp-test/">c-reactive protein (CRP) blood test</a> to find other causes of inflammation.</li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/urinalysis.html">urinalysis</a> to rule out other conditions, such as a <a href="/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults">bladder infection</a>&nbsp;or a <a href="/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-stones">kidney stone</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/pregnancy-test/">pregnancy test</a>, if youre a woman.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Imaging tests</h3>
<p>Your doctor may use imaging tests to find out if your pain is caused by appendicitis.</p>
<ul class="loose">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/sonogram/">Abdominal ultrasound</a> uses sound waves to create an image of your internal organs. An ultrasound doesnt use <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/xrays.html">x-rays</a> and doesnt expose you to radiation. Doctors use an ultrasound as the first imaging test when checking for possible appendicitis in infants, children, young adults, and pregnant women.</li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/mriscans.html">Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)</a> scan takes pictures of your bodys internal organs and soft tissues without using x-rays. Doctors can use an MRI scan as a safe, reliable alternative to a computed tomography (CT) scan.<sup>3</sup></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ctscans.html">Computed tomography (CT)</a> scan combines x-rays and computer technology to create images. If youre a woman of childbearing age, you should have a pregnancy test before having a CT scan. The radiation from CT scans can be harmful to a developing fetus. In children, to decrease radiation exposure, a CT scan is recommended only after ultrasound and MRI.</li>
</ul>
<p>Imaging tests can show whether your abdominal pain is caused by a blockage inside the appendix, an enlarged or burst appendix, <a href="/Dictionary/I/inflammation" class="dictionary-term">inflammation</a>, an <a href="/Dictionary/A/abscess" class="dictionary-term">abscess</a>, or something else.</p>
<p>Imaging tests can also show if your abdominal pain and other symptoms are not caused by appendicitis, but rather by other conditions such as</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/abdominal-adhesions">abdominal adhesions</a></li>
<li><a href="/Dictionary/I/inflammatory-bowel-disease" class="dictionary-term">inflammatory bowel disease</a>, including long-lasting disorders such as <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease">Crohns disease</a>&nbsp;and <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/ulcerative-colitis">ulcerative colitis</a></li>
<li><a href="/Dictionary/I/intestinal-obstruction" class="dictionary-term">intestinal obstruction</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/pelvicinflammatorydisease.html">pelvic inflammatory disease</a></li>
<li><a href="/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-stones">kidney stones</a></li>
<li>problems with the reproductive system in women</li>
</ul>
<h2>References</h2>
<aside class="references">
<p>[3] Mervak BM, Wilson SB, Handly BD, Altun E, Burke LM. MRI of acute appendicitis. <em>Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging</em>. 2019;50(5):13671376. doi:10.1002/jmri.26709</p>
</aside>
</div> <div class="dk-review-date">Last Reviewed July 2021</div>
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