J Styrud1, T Josephson, S Eriksson. 1. Department of Surgery, Karolinska Institutet at Danderyd Hospital, Sweden. johan.styrud@kir.ds.sll.se
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the sensitivity and the specificity for ultrasonography and computed tomography in patients with suspected appendicitis, and their value to the clinician. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The negative appendectomy rate and the sensitivity and the specificity for ultrasonography and computed tomography in patients with suspected appendicitis. RESULT: The diagnostic accuracy was 88% (men 95%, women 80%). Two hundred and thirty-nine patients were examined by ultrasonography preoperatively. The sensitivity for ultrasonography was 0.82 and the specificity was 0.97. Forty-nine patients were examined by computed tomography preoperatively. The sensitivity for computer tomography was 0.88 and the specificity was 0.95. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ultrasound and computed tomography investigations on patients with suspected appendicitis are of great value. Computed tomography seems to have a higher sensitivity than ultrasound and a high specificity. In fertile women, where unnecessary surgery is best avoided, we believe that computed tomography investigation or ultrasound examination are better alternatives to surgical intervention.
OBJECTIVE: To study the sensitivity and the specificity for ultrasonography and computed tomography in patients with suspected appendicitis, and their value to the clinician. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The negative appendectomy rate and the sensitivity and the specificity for ultrasonography and computed tomography in patients with suspected appendicitis. RESULT: The diagnostic accuracy was 88% (men 95%, women 80%). Two hundred and thirty-nine patients were examined by ultrasonography preoperatively. The sensitivity for ultrasonography was 0.82 and the specificity was 0.97. Forty-nine patients were examined by computed tomography preoperatively. The sensitivity for computer tomography was 0.88 and the specificity was 0.95. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ultrasound and computed tomography investigations on patients with suspected appendicitis are of great value. Computed tomography seems to have a higher sensitivity than ultrasound and a high specificity. In fertile women, where unnecessary surgery is best avoided, we believe that computed tomography investigation or ultrasound examination are better alternatives to surgical intervention.
Authors: Johan Styrud; Staffan Eriksson; Ingemar Nilsson; Gunnar Ahlberg; Staffan Haapaniemi; Gunnar Neovius; Lars Rex; Ibrahim Badume; Lars Granström Journal: World J Surg Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Carmelita A Wallace; Maxim S Petrov; David I Soybel; Stephen J Ferzoco; Stanley W Ashley; Ali Tavakkolizadeh Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2007-10-26 Impact factor: 3.452