[The value of ultrasonic diagnosis in acute appendicitis]

The diagnostic accuracy and practical value of graded compression ultrasound was evaluated in 298 patients admitted for ultrasound examination because of having suspected appendicitis by surgeons. The result of the ultrasound was considered to be positive, if the inflamed appendix, larger, than 6.5 mm in outer diameter or an abscess was depicted. Of the 99 pathologically proven cases of acute appendicitis ultrasound was positive in 94, that is the sensitivity was 94.9%. The diagnostic accuracy and specificity were 96.3% and 97.9%. The predictive value of a positive test was 95.9%, and was 97.5% of a negative one. In the group of patients under 18 years (140 patients) sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 93.3%, 96.3% and 95% respectively. The use of ultrasound helped many patients to earlier operation and reduced considerably the negative laparotomy rate. The routine use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of appendicitis especially if the clinical presentation is equivocal, complements usefully the clinical signs and increases diagnostic accuracy.