Key clinical point: Performing an initial ultrasound was the most cost-effective strategy for assessing appendicitis in low- to medium-risk patients.

Major finding: The cost of initial ultrasound followed by computed tomography if needed was $4,815, with effectiveness of 0.99694 quality-adjusted life-years.

Study details: The data come from a cost-effectiveness analysis using a model of 10 imaging strategies in a hypothetical patient population.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital Quality Improvement Scholars Program. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.