Alvarado score: can it reduce unnecessary CT scans for evaluation of acute appendicitis?

作者:Apisarnthanarak Piya****; Suvannarerg Voraparee; Pattaranuta**** Poompis; Charoensak Aphinya; Raman Steven S; Apisarnthanarak Anucha*
来源:American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2015, 33(2): 266-270.
DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2014.11.056

摘要

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the utility of Alvarado score in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the utility of computed tomographic (CT) scan for evaluation of acute appendicitis when stratified by Alvarado scores. Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort study comprised adult patients who underwent abdominal CT for suspected acute appendicitis between January 2006 and December 2009. Two abdominal radiologists independently reviewed the CT scans; any discrepancieswere resolved by a consensus review. Alvarado scoreswere calculated and categorized as low (0-3), equivocal (4-6), or high (7-10) probability for appendicitis. The diagnostic utility of CT scans and Alvarado score for acute appendicitis were compared with the criterion standard of combined medical chart review and pathology findings. Results: In a cohort of 158 subjects, 73 (46.2%) had clinical diagnoses of acute appendicitis. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT scan in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis were 97.5%, 98.6%, 96.5%, 96.0%, and 98.8%, respectively. The mean Alvarado score for subjects with complicated appendicitis was significantly higher (7.95) than subjects with uncomplicated appendicitis (6.67) and those with other diagnoses (5.95). Acute appendicitis was confirmed in 2 (13.3%) of 15 subjects with low probability Alvarado scores, 16 (30.8%) of 52 subjects with equivocal scores, and 55 (60.4%) of 91 subjects with high probability scores. Conclusion: The CT scan had high diagnostic utility for acute appendicitis. The Alvarado score was not a reliable independent predictive tool for acute appendicitis and could not replace CT scan.

  • 出版日期2015-2