Muhammad Asaf Alavi, Mudassar Suleri, Ataul Haq, Mazia Kulsoom, Azam Yusuf.
Practicality of modified Alvarado score in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
Pak J Surg Jan ;23(4):255-8.

Objective: To evaluate the practicality of Modified Alvarado Scoring System (MASS) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in our set up. Design & Duration: Prospective, quasi-experimental study from July 2005 to December 2005. Setting: Surgical Unit II, Rawalpindi General Hospital, Rawalpindi. Patients: All patients, aged 15 years or above, who were operated for Acute Appendicitis during the study period. Methodology: All patients were evaluated using the Modified Alvarado Score (MAS) once decision of surgery has been made by a consultant surgeon. The MAS was correlated with the operative and histopathological findings. Results: Out of the total 82 patients, 49 were male (60%) and 33 female (40%). Their age range was from 15 to 60 years with peak incidence in the 2nd and 3rd decade of life. The overall sensitivity of MAS was 89%. There were 4% negative appendicectomies with MAS between 6-9, 12% with MAS between 4-5 and 50% where MAS was <4. Conclusion: MASS cannot be fully relied upon to make the decision to operate in acute appendicitis, and that the decision remains clinical.

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