EVALUATION OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC SCORING IN SUSPECTED APPENDICITIS

Background Several diagnostic aids have been developed to improve diag nosis in suspected appendicitis including ultrasonography and clinical diagnostic scoring. The aim of this study was to elaborate a new scor ing system and to measure its accuracy in the preoperative diagnosis o f appendicitis, comparing it with the available scoring systems. Metho ds The clinical, radiological and ultrasonographic data of 192 patient s with suspected appendicitis were collected prospectively. Results On ly six of the 12 variables analysed were shown to have prognostic sign ificance. Using Bayesian methodology, a weight was given to each crite rion and two overall scores were calculated (ultrasonographic and clas sical scores). A cut-off point was identified to separate patients who needed surgery and those for observation. The ultrasonographic score showed an 81 per cent sensitivity and a 96 per cent specificity, compa red with 60 and 73 per cent respectively for the classical score. Conc lusion Ultrasonography increases the diagnostic accuracy in patients w ith suspected acute appendicitis.