The clinically equivocal acute appendicitis remains a diagnostic problem.
The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography
and the classical clinical factors employed in the diagnosis of
suspected acute appendicitis. This study included 182 patients presenting
with equivocal acute appendicitis,88 patients (48.4%) were males and
94 patients (51.6%) were females. The age of the patients ranged from 6
to 64 years ( mean : 24.3 + 15.3 years) . The clinical, radiological and ultrasonographic
data of all patients were collected. One hundred and ten
patients (60.4%) had histologically confirmed appendicitis. After analysis
of the possible association between the diagnostic variables recorded and
the presence of appendicitis, 9 variables were found to be significant. Ultrasonography
displayed the greatest diagnostic weight, with a sensitivity
of 85.5%, specificity of 94.4%, and accuracy of 89%. Out of the clinical
data, localization of pain in the right iliac fossa and total leucocytosis
showed the greatest diagnostic weights over the others.
Localization of pain in the right iliac fossa showed an 84% sensitivity.
speccity of 50%. and accuracy of 7096. Total leucocytosis showed an
81% sensitivity, specificity of 49%, and accuracy of 68%.
Conclusion : It was concluded that ultrasonography increases the diagnostic
accuracy in patients with suspected acute appendicitis |
