Junaid Khan Lodhi, Tayyiba Akhter, Saba Tahir Bokhari, Asim Malik, Luqman Ahmad Bajwa, Muhammad Asjad.
Reliability of Diagnostic Performance of Alvarado Score and Ultrasound in patients Suspected of Having Acute Appendicitis.
Esculapio J Services Inst Med Sci Jan ;15(4):318-22.

Objective: To evaluate diagnostic reliability of Alvarado score and ultrasound in patients who have suspicion of having acute appendicitis to get to a safe diagnosis without radiation exposure. Junaid Khan Lodhi, Tayyiba Akhter, Saba Tahir Bokhari, Asim Malik.Luqman Ahmad Bajwa and Muhammad AsjadThis is a retrospective study conducted on 100 patients who presented in emergency with presumed acute appendicitis at Fatima Memorial Hospital from 2016 to 2018. Study design is retrospective cross sectional. Results: Using a cutoff value of >=5.5 Alvarado score resulted in sensitivity of 76%, specificity of 93%, accuracy of 84%, PPV 94%, and NPV 73%. US showed a sensitivity of 66%, specificity of 97.6%, accuracy of 79%, PPV 97% and NPV 67%. There was no difference of accuracy between the two modalities. Using both of these modalities can eliminate the use of CT scan. Conclusions: Using Alvarado score as tool of exclusion and US as 1st investigation of choice, a case of acute appendicitis is not only diagnosed correctly but also radiation hazards of CT scan can be eliminated.

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