title: Diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory markers in patients operated on for suspected acute appendicitis: a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory variables in patients operated on for suspected acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open prospective population based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching hospital, Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Appendicectomy in 544 patients with clinically suspected acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory variables using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Logistic regression model of inflammatory variables using results of ROC-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A small area under the ROC curve (AUC) (between 0.56 and 0.69) indicated less diagnostic accuracy. The best cut-off values were associated with low sensitivity and specificity, varying from 46% to 88%. Age, duration of history, and histological grade of inflammation significantly influenced the test results (AUC >0.5). The white cell count (WCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration were independent predictors of acute appendicitis with cut-off values of >12.3x10(9)/L and >0 mg/L, respectively, but AUC values of over 0.5 were observed only in patients between 13 and 40 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inflammatory variables added information of limited value in the diagnosis of suspected acute appendicitis. The test results should be interpreted differently in different groups of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rogaland Central Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Körner
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Söreide
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Söndenaa
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results