Which one in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis: Physical examination, laboratory or imaging? A retrospective analysis in the light of pathological results
Hakan Özdemir 1 * , Zehra Ünal Özdemir 1, Oğuzhan Sunamak 1, Ferdi Cambaztepe 2
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1 MD, Instructor of General Surgery, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey2 MD, Instructor of General Surgery, Kaçkar State Hospital, Pazar, Rize, Turkey* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Background:
Acute appendicitis is the most frequently performed emergent operation. Although the clinical signs, symptoms and physical examination are the mainstay of diagnosis, imaging and biochemical tests also help. We analyzed the reliability of our operation decision and the contribution of biochemical tests and imaging to diagnosis in the light of pathological results.

Material and Methods:
The files of 361 patients (199male and 162 female) who underwent appendectomy were analyzed retrospectively in terms of age, sex, physical examination, blood tests, imaging and pathological results.

Results:
The mean age of the patients was found 31±13.5. Pathology revealed normal appendix in 20.1% of the cases. The patients with a leukocytosis or more were found an increased possibility of acute appendicitis. Physical examination was still the mainstay in diagnosis and ultrasound had a low sensitivity.

Conclusion:
Physical examination is still mainstay in acute appendicitis diagnosis. Leukocytosis of 11x103/ml or more increases the possibility of acute appendicitis.

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Original Article

ELECTRON J GEN MED, 2018, Volume 15, Issue 2, Article No: em04

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/81764

Publication date: 17 Jan 2018

Article Views: 4222

Article Downloads: 1733

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