A 36-year-old woman with long-standing Crohn disease presents with acute abdominal pain, fever and localised right lower quadrant tenderness. She is t...

Question

A 36-year-old woman with long-standing Crohn disease presents with acute abdominal pain, fever and localised right lower quadrant tenderness. She is tachycardic and has guarding. What is the most appropriate initial imaging modality to evaluate for possible intra-abdominal abscess or perforation?

Accepted Answer

CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast

Answer

Plain abdominal radiograph only

Answer

Ultrasound of the abdomen

Answer

MRI of the brain

Answer

No imaging; start steroids only

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Complicated Crohn disease evaluation

A 36-year-old woman with long-standing Crohn disease presents with acute abdominal pain, fever and localised right lower quadrant tenderness. She is tachycardic and has guarding. What is the most appropriate initial imaging modality to evaluate for possible intra-abdominal abscess or perforation?