title: The accuracy rate of Alvarado score, ultrasonography, and computerized tomography scan in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in our center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aim to compare the relationship between the Alvarado score, ultrasonography, and multislice computerized tomography (CT) findings used for the diagnosis of the patients who presented to our emergency unit with clinical features suggestive of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four patients operated with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients, physical findings, blood parameters, Alvarado scores, the radiological method used for the diagnosis, the surgical methods (open or laparoscopic) and the pathology results were recorded on the standard proforma. The collected data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 15 for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) computer program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During study period, the sensitivity of ultrasonography was found to be as 71.2%, specificity as 46.7%, the positive predictive value (PPV) as 82.2%, the negative predictive value (NPV) as 31.8%, and the accuracy rate was determined as 65.7%. The sensitivity of tomography was determined as 97.2%, the specificity as 62.5%, PPV as 92.1%, and NPV as 83.3%, and the accuracy rate was determined as 90%. The sensitivity of the Alvarado score was calculated as 54%, the specificity as 73.3%, the PPV as 88.2% and the NPV as 29.7%, and the accuracy rate was determined as 57.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, computerized tomography (CT) was found to have higher specificity and sensitivity than Alvarado score and USG which are not sufficient on their own for taking the decision for surgery. We also found that CT scan had lower negative laparotomy rate when compared with the other two modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duman
authors.forename: Polat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durukan
authors.forename: Afra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozbakan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult