Diagnostic accuracy of leukocytosis in prediction of acute appendicitis.

An analytical study was conducted to find out the diagnostic accuracy of leukocytosis in predicting acute appendicitis in patients undergoing emergency appendicectomy. The degree of inflammation of the resected specimens was grossly assessed and graded into acute inflammation, acute inflammation with complications (such as gangrene, perforation, abscess) and un-inflamed appendix. The operative findings were correlated with leukocyte counts using 2 x 2 table. Out of 233 appendicectomies, with exclusion of the negative appendicectomies (17.59%, n = 41), there were 67.38% patients (n = 157) with elevated leukocyte count. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of elevated leukocyte counts for inflamed appendix were 91.81%, 43.55%, 81.77% and 65.85% respectively.

Carcinoma multiplex.

Multiple primaries in a single patient are uncommon, though not very rare. The existence of such cancers in two un-related, non-paired organs is even more un-common. Here, we present a case of 55 years old male who presented to us with a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland and was operated. Later on, he presented with a large cystic swelling in the pelvis which turned out to be pseudomyxoma peritonei. A review of slides and immunohistochemistry indicated it to be adenocarcinoma colon. He presented again with recurrent mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid which was operated successfully with the use of myocutaneous flap for wound closure. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy. In order to establish a separate mono-clonal etiology of both tumours, immunohistochemistry was performed. To the best of our knowledge, carcinoma multiplex in the colon and the parotid has never been reported before.

Alvarado scoring system in prediction of acute appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Alvarado score for the prediction of acute appendicitis. STUDY DESIGN: Analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was carried out in the Department of Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, during the period from January 15, 2009 to July 15, 2010. METHODOLOGY: The study included all adult patients of either gender who presented with clinical findings suggestive of acute appendicitis, who were assigned Alvarado score of < 4 pre-operatively and subsequently underwent emergency appendicectomy with histological examination of the resected specimens. Based on the Alvarado score, the patients were stratified into two groups. i.e. Group I (with a score of > 7) and Group II (with a score of 5-7). Alvarado score was compared with the histopathology. The data was subjected to statistical analysis to measure the objective. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Alvarado score for acute appendicitis were 66%, 81%, 96%, 29% respectively. The sensitivity was higher though not significant, for males with a score over 7 than females with similar scores (97% vs. 92%). However, for scores less than 7, sensitivity among males was significantly higher than females with similar scores (79% vs. 61%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of a high Alvarado score in adult males is highly predictive of acute appendicitis, however, in women of child bearing age other causes of similar clinical presentation lead to a low diagnostic accuracy of the score.