Inflammation parameters in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

The role of the common parameters of inflammation in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was studied by measuring axillary temperature (Tax), blood leukocyte (Leuk) and lymphocyte fraction (Lymph), serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and ESR in 354 patients with clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Laparotomy showed normal appendix in 97 cases, but deduction of 14 with other surgically correctable disorders gave the negative appendectomy rate 83/354 (23.4%). The appendix had perforated in 9.9%. Tax, Leuk, Lymph and CRP could significantly differentiate acute appendicitis from the other cases, with respective sensitivity (and false positive) percentages 88.7 (66.0), 78.5 (24.7), 84.4 (48.5) and 52.7 (24.7). Although such statistical differences are not particularly helpful in preoperative diagnosis of individual cases, none of the 37 patients with simultaneously normal Leuk, Lymph and CRP had obvious appendicitis (2 probably had incipient inflammation). If laparotomy had not been performed in these 37 cases, almost half of the unnecessary operations could have been avoided, thereby reducing the negative appendectomy rate to 15.2%, with 11.7% perforation rate.