Accuracy of alvarado score system in diagnosis of acute appendicitis

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to find out the accuracy of Alvarado score system in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults. Cross sectional comparative study [validation study]. Study was done at surgical department, Nishtar Hospital Multan from 28-05-2006 to 27-11-2006. The study included 60 patients. They were prospectively evaluated on admission, using the Alvarado score to determine whether or not they had acute appendicitis. Fifty patients [83.3%] had appendicectomies of which 10 patients [20%] had normal appendices on histopathology examination. Overall Alvarado system showed a sensitivity of 79.06%, a specificity of 35.29% and accuracy was 66.67%. Positive predictive value [PPV] and Negative predictive value [NPV] were 75.56% and 40% while for male. PPV was 81.48% and NPV was 37.5% and for female, PPV was 66.67% and NPV was 42.86%. For males, the sensitivity was 81.48%, specificity 37.5% and an accuracy of 71.42%. Alvarado system may be sufficiently used as an adjuvant clinical assessment for diagnosis of acute appendicitis, however, clinical assessment of the surgeon still, remain the mainstay for diagnosis of acute appendicitis