"We eliminated what was a common practice, using CT to examine pregnant women with inconclusive ultrasound results," he said. "Now, these patients are evaluated with MRI instead."

However, Dr. Pedrosa maintains that larger studies are needed to investigate the issue of patient outcomes and examine the reproducibility of their results. Until now, only small series of pregnant women have been evaluated with MRI.


Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes acutely inflamed and develops a severe infection. The importance of ruling out this and other conditions that may require surgical intervention is paramount, to avoid unnecessary delays in treatment and subsequent risks to both mother and developing fetus.

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Radiology is a monthly scientific journal devoted to clinical radiology and allied sciences. The journal is edited by Anthony V. Proto, M.D., School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va. Radiology is owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (RSNA.org/radiologyjnl)

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) is an association of more than 38,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to promoting excellence in radiology through education and by fostering research, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)

"MR Imaging Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis in Pregnancy." Collaborating with Dr. Pedrosa on this paper were Deborah Levine, M.D., Aimee D. Eyvazzadeh, M.D., Bettina Siewert, M.D., Long Ngo, Ph.D., and Neil M. Rofsky, M.D.

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