Najam Hussain, Saadia Zaman, Naveed Akhtar Malik, Jahangir Sarwar Khan, Muhammad Musaddiq Khan.
Sensitivity and specificity of investigations for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and their correlation with histopathology findings.
J Rawal Med Coll Jan ;16(2):129-31.

Background: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of various commonly available investigations for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and their correlation with biopsy reports. Methods:- In this comparative study 50 patients, with provisional diagnosis of acute appendicitis, were enrolled. Sampless were collected for total leucocyte counts, Creative protein (CRP) and urine routine examination. All the patients underwent ultrasound examination. After appendcectomy, specimens were sent for histopathological examination. The results of investigations were compared with the results of histopathology. Results:-In 38 patients with histopathologically proven acute appendicitis, serum CRP levels was significantly raised in 35 patients, TLC was raised in 20 patients and ultrasound diagnosed to have appendicitis in 12 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of C-reactive protein level was 92% and 80%, TLC was 52% and 41.6%, while ultrasound abdomen had a sensitivity and specificity of 31% and 75% respectively. Conclusion:- In the presence of a normal pre-operative serum C-reactive protein level, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is highly unlikely.

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