Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pain in the right iliac fossa (RIF) is considered the most common presentation of the patients in the emergency department (ED).
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess various etiologies of acute pain in the RIF using ultrasonography.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Khartoum North Teaching Hospital and Alrebat University Hospital from January 2016 to July 2016. A total of 100 patients presented to the ED with acute pain in the RIF. The patients were investigated with ultrasound (US) using 3.5- and 5-MHz transducers. The exclusion criteria included chronic illness, known cancer, and women in late pregnancy.
RESULTS: A total of 100 cases who presented with pain in the RIF had been examined clinically and sonographically. A number of 26 cases (26%) showed no findings, whereas 19% were with appendicitis, ovarian cysts represented 17%, right lower ureteric stone represented 16%, and pelvic inflammatory disease represented 12%. Gender and age were the significant factors affecting the distribution of diseases that cause pain in the RIF (P = 0.04).
CONCLUSION: In addition to appendicitis, there were a variety of abnormalities that cause pain in the RIF. Ovarian cysts and lower ureteric stone were the most etiologies of pain in the RIF following appendicitis. US of the pelvis is essential before proceeding with any surgery for acute pain in the RIF, especially in young women.