Scoring system may spare appendicitis patients unnecessary scans and surgery

NCT ID NCT06083064

Diagnosis Sponsor: Helsinki University Central Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Sep 18, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026

Summary

Researchers compare selective imaging guided by clinical scores to routine imaging in adults with suspected appendicitis. Participants are assigned to one of three groups: selective imaging based on the Adult Appendicitis Score, selective observation plus selective imaging, or routine ultrasound and CT. The trial measures whether selective approaches increase negative appendectomies or complicated appendicitis.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: protocol-based selective abdominal imaging using clinical scoring
What this could lead to: If selective imaging works, doctors could avoid unnecessary CT scans and surgeries for suspected appendicitis, reducing radiation exposure and surgical risks.
What could go wrong: Selective imaging might miss cases of complicated appendicitis, leading to delayed treatment. The trial's results may not apply to all hospitals or patients.

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Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 900 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Nov 2023

Expected to finish

May 2029

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: \- Suspicion of appendicitis Exclusion Criteria: * Time from symptom onset over 72 hours * Age \<18 years * Pregnancy, ruled out by serum or urine HCG measurement in 18- to 49-year-old women * CT-scan or ultrasound already done within the last 3 days (72 hours) * Clinical suspicion of other disease or other reason to perform imaging study * Recruited earlier to the same trial

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

appendicitis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Appendicitis

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
The official record

ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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A doctor treating you

A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Scoring system may spare appendicitis patients unnecessary scans and surgery

What the study statuses mean