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Appendicitis

1. Appendicitis is the most likely diagnosis due to the patient's severe abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant, nausea, vomiting (small amounts of green bile), and fever (temperature of 100.8°F).
2. These symptoms are typical of appendicitis, particularly the pain in the right lower quadrant, which is a hallmark symptom of an inflamed appendix.
3. The CT scan of the abdomen reveals a dilated appendix (7 mm in diameter) and fat stranding, which are clear signs of appendicitis.
4. The fat stranding around the appendix suggests inflammation, which further supports the diagnosis.
5. The elevated white blood cell count (WBC) would be expected, which is typical of an infection or inflammation, as is seen in appendicitis.

White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

1. White blood cell count (WBC) is an important indicator of infection or inflammation.
2. A high WBC count is expected in appendicitis due to the infection or inflammatory process in the appendix.
3. In appendicitis, the body’s immune response to the infection typically causes leukocytosis (an increase in WBC count).
4. This elevated WBC is a common finding and is used to support the diagnosis of appendicitis.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan Results

1. The CT scan results showing a dilated appendix (7 mm in diameter) with fat stranding are key findings in diagnosing appendicitis.
2. Fat stranding indicates inflammation around the appendix, which is a typical sign of appendicitis, and dilation of the appendix suggests an infection or obstruction.
3. The CT scan is the most definitive imaging modality to confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis.