title: New parameter in diagnosis of acute appendicitis: platelet distribution width.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective, case-controlled study compared 295 patients with acute appendicitis (Group I, 100 patients with other intra-abdominal infections (Group II), and 100 healthy individuals (Group III) between January 2012 and January 2013. The age, gender, and white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width values from blood samples were compared among the groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows 21.0 software. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ages of patients were 29.9 ± 12.0 years for Group I, 31.5 ± 14.0 years for Group II, and 30.4 ± 13.0 years for Group III. Demographic features such as age and gender were not significantly different among the groups. White blood cell count, neutrophil percentage and platelet distribution width were significantly higher in Group I compared to groups II and III (P < 0.05). Diagnostically, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 73.1%, 94.0%, and 78% for white blood cell count, 70.0%, 96.0%, and 76.0% for neutrophil percentage, 29.5%, 49.0%, and 34.0% for mean platelet volume, and 97.1%, 93.0%, and 96.0% for platelet distribution width, respectively. The highest diagnostic accuracy detected was for platelet distribution width between Group I and Group III (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Platelet distribution width analysis can be used for diagnosis of acute appendicitis without requiring additional tests, thus reducing the cost and loss of time.
authors: Bulent Dinc, Department of General Surgery, Ataturk State Hospital, Antalya 07040, Turkey.
authors: Bulent
authors: B
authors: Dinc
authors: Bulent Dinc, Department of General Surgery, Ataturk State Hospital, Antalya 07040, Turkey.
authors: Alten
authors: A
authors: Oskay
authors: Bulent Dinc, Department of General Surgery, Ataturk State Hospital, Antalya 07040, Turkey.
authors: Selcan Enver
authors: SE
authors: Dinc
authors: Bulent Dinc, Department of General Surgery, Ataturk State Hospital, Antalya 07040, Turkey.
authors: Bilge
authors: B
authors: Bas
authors: Bulent Dinc, Department of General Surgery, Ataturk State Hospital, Antalya 07040, Turkey.
authors: Sabri
authors: S
authors: Tekin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001792:Blood Platelets; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D063847:Mean Platelet Volume; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Appendicitis; Diagnosis; Platelet distribution width; Platelet function test