ارزش يافته هاي آزمايشگاهي در تشخيص بيماران مبتلا به آپانديسيت

Evaluation of the Laboratory Findings in Diagnosis of Appendicitis

Background: Appendicitis is the most common cause of surgery in acute abdomen. Since some other diseases have signs and symptoms of in common with appendicitis, in some cases the diagnosis of the disease becomes elusive. Thus, the present study was carried out with the aim of evaluation of findings in diagnosis of appendictis in Shafiieh hospital of Zanjan in 2000. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out using the existing data of 452 patients who underwent appendectomy in Shafiieh hospital of Zanjan over a six month period in 2000. Diagnostic value of laboratory findings including urinalysis, leukocyte count and neutrophilia, was compared to pathologic findings (definite diagnosis) based on age and sex of the patients. Then the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: The data obtained from 452 patientsʹ files indicated that the leucocyte count was normal in patients up to I0 years old. In patients suffering from real appendicitis 56.7% of 16-18 years-old (p=0.001) and 16.2% of 18 years-old (P=0.00002) had leukocytosis. Neutrophil percent of patients up to 16 years old was above normal. Of all patients suffering from appendicitis 97.8% had neutrophil percent above normal (p=0.001). Conclusion: Leukocytosis had no diagnostic value in children up to ten years of age. However, in patients over ten it can be of diagnostic value. Increment of blood neutrophil percent has diagnostic value at all ages. Diagnostic value increases highly if we consider leukocytosis alongside the neutrophil percent raise.