Role of ultrasound in diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Abstract

Background: Acute appendicitis is the inflammation of appendix. Alvarado scoring is a parameter of diagnosing acute appendicitis on clinical basis. Ultrasonography and CT scan are imaging studies which are very helpful in diagnosis of acute appendicitis. In this study the role of ultrasonography and Alvarado score was compared in terms of their sensitivity, accuracy, positive predictive value and false positive rate in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods: From Oct 2016 to Jan 2017, one hundred (100) patients were selected and placed in two groups with fifty patients in each group. Group one was the one in which ultrasonography was used as diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis and then the patients underwent appendectomy. Group two was the one in which no ultrasonography was done and their appendicectomy were done on the basis of Alvarado score. The appendicectomy samples of both groups were sent to pathology labs for histopathology. Results: Ultrasonography was found to have greater sensitivity (0.85), accuracy (0.80) more positive predictive value (0.85) and less false positive rate (0.32) then that of Alvarado score (0.66, 0.66, 0.66, and 0.34 respectively) for diagnosing acute appendicitis. Conclusion: For diagnosis of appendicitis, ultrasonography is better than Alvarado score in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, positive predictive value and false positive rate.

Pak J Physiol 2019;15(4):52?5