Diagnosis Of Acute Appendicitis Research Articles

Diagnostic value of systemic immune inflammation index in acute appendicitis and complicated appendicitis in pregnant patients.

Acute pain in the right lower quadrant during pregnancy is difficult to approach and acute appendicitis must be excluded. The complication rate in pregnant acute appendicitis increases as a result of delayed diagnosis due to physiological and anatomic changes. The systemic immune inflammatory index (SII), which includes several inflammatory tests, is considered to be a good indicator of acute inflammation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic value of SII in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and complicated appendicitis in pregnant women. This was designed as a retrospective, single-center case-control study. This study was performed in pregnant women over 12 weeks of gestation who were diagnosed with acute appendicitis as indicated by pathology report and met the inclusion criteria. Vital parameters, demographic characteristics, laboratory values, presence of complicated appendicitis, and pathology reports were taken into analysis. The present study was performed with 76 pregnant women, including 38 pregnant women with acute appendicitis and 38 pregnant women with healthy controls. SII had a sensitivity of 82.0% and specificity of 66.7% with a cut-off value of 840.13 in pregnant acute appendicitis cases (AUC: 0.790; 95% CI: 0.686-0.984; p < 0.001) and SII level was significantly higher in complicated appendicitis cases with a sensitivity and specificity of 66.7% and 91.3%, respectively, with a cut-off value of 2301.66 (AUC: 0.812; 95% CI: 0.665-0.958; p = 0.001). SII is a cost-effective, rapid, easily calculated, and powerful marker that can be used for the diagnosis of both acute and complicated appendicitis in pregnant patients.

Construction of a clinical prediction model for complicated appendicitis based on machine learning techniques

Acute appendicitis is a typical surgical emergency worldwide and one of the common causes of surgical acute abdomen in the elderly. Accurately diagnosing and differentiating acute appendicitis can assist clinicians in formulating a scientific and reasonable treatment plan and providing high-quality medical services for the elderly. In this study, we validated and analyzed the different performances of various machine learning models based on the analysis of clinical data, so as to construct a simple, fast, and accurate estimation method for the diagnosis of early acute appendicitis. The dataset of this paper was obtained from the medical data of elderly patients with acute appendicitis attending the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2012 to January 2022, including 196 males (60.87%) and 126 females (39.13%), including 103 (31.99%) patients with complicated appendicitis and 219 (68.01%) patients with uncomplicated appendicitis. By comparing and analyzing the prediction results of the models implemented by nine different machine learning techniques (LR, CART, RF, SVM, Bayes, KNN, NN, FDA, and GBM), we found that the GBM algorithm gave the optimal results and that sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, precision, recall, F1 and brier are 0.9167, 0.9739, 0.9429, 0.9613, 0.9429, 0.9167, 0.9296, and 0.05649, respectively. The GBM model prediction results are interpreted using the SHAP technology framework. Calibration and Decision curve analysis also show that the machine learning model proposed in this paper has some clinical and economic benefits. Finally, we developed the Shiny application for complicated appendicitis diagnosis to assist clinicians in quickly and effectively recognizing patients with complicated appendicitis (CA) and uncomplicated appendicitis (UA), and to formulate a more reasonable and scientific clinical plan for acute appendicitis patient population promptly.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in children and adolescents

Background. Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are rare in children and adolescents. Standard management of these tumors has not been well established due to their rarity in this age group. We aimed to report the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with this rare disease followed and treated between the years 1993-2022. Materials and methods. The medical records of patients with GEP-NETs were reviewed. Results. Fourteen patients (11 girls, 3 boys) were diagnosed with GEP-NET. The median age was 13 (9-18) years. Tumor localization was the appendix in 12, stomach in one and pancreas in one patient. Mesoappendix invasion was detected in four patients two of whom underwent right hemicolectomy (RHC) and lymph node dissection (LND). Of those, one patient had lymph node involvement. The other two had not further operations. Somatostatin was used in one with pancreatic metastatic disease and the other with gastric disease after surgery. No additional treatment was given in other patients. All patients are under follow-up without evidence of disease at a median follow-up of 85 months (7-226 months). Conclusion. GEP-NETs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis and in cases with persistent abdominal pain. In children, there is invariably a favorable prognosis, and additional surgical interventions other than simple appendectomies generally do not provide benefits. Mesoappendix invasion may not necessitate RHC and LND.

Evaluating Pediatric Appendicitis Score and Alvarado Scoring System for Detecting Acute Appendicitis in Pediatric Population

Abstract Background Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical condition of children. About 1 to 10% of children presenting in surgical emergencies with acute abdomen fall within the domain of acute appendicitis. In few of these cases, clinical signs and symptoms at presentation are such that acute appendicitis is a clear diagnosis while more often it is challenging for a surgeon to make a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. In these circumstances, explorations reveal negative appendectomies and an organ with potential functions can be lost. Objective To evaluate the Pediatric Appendicitis Score and Alvarado Scoring System in Detecting Acute Appendicitis in Pediatric Population in terms of applicability, safety, and specificity in the diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis among the study group and to suggest improvements and/or modifications to increase the predictive values of Pediatric Appendicitis Score and Alvarado Scoring System, decrease the rates of false diagnosis or reduce costs. Methods a prospective cohort study that was conducted on 50 patients aged under 14 years admitted to pediatric surgery department in Ain Shams University Hospital within a period of 6 months with an expected diagnosis of Acute appendicitis. Each patient was subjected to a detailed medical history taking (with emphasis on The age, gender, duration of pain, complaint complaints ofabdominal pain and duration, fever, nausea-vomiting, diarrhea or constipation), Clinical examination:(right lower quadrant sensitivity,defense, rebound tenderness, percussion/ cough/ right lower quadrant sensitivity with jumping). Laboratory investigations:(complete blood count, the total white blood cell (WBC) and total neutrophil counts c-reactive protein ) and Ultrasound examination. Alvarado score as well as PAS were calculated for each patient . the results were then compared to the intra operative findings confirming or excluding the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Results in the study group that was 38% males and 62% females with ages ranging from 3 to 14 years .Pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) was found to significantly predict acute appendicitis in the studied patients at cutoff 5.0 with sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV was 60.5%, 100%, 100% and 71.9% respectively (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Alvarado score can significantly predict acute appendicitis in the studied patients at cutoff 4.0 with sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV was 79.1%, 85.7%, 84.7% and 80.4% respectively (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusion The results of this study showed the higher sensitivity of Alvarado score and more specificity of the Pediatric Appendicitis score. However, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of these criteria were not considered enough to confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis alone. There is a need for new parameters in the scoring systems. Such as including ultrasonagraphic findings and additional laboratory investigations such as CRP.

Different Recent Scoring Systems for Better Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Abstract Background Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies, with a lifetime prevalence rate of approximately one in seven. Aim of the Work to compare RIPASA score, (AIR) score and Modified Alvarado Score widely and easily used scoring systems, in order to identify which one is the best in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy, So which one leads to the most accurate diagnosis of acute Appendicitis. Patients and Methods A randomized prospective study that was conducted in Ain-Shams University Hospitals. The study started in February 2022 till the number of cases is fulfilled. 50 patients presented with RT iliac fossa tenderness. Each patient was scored by the three scoring systems using history, examination, clinical labs. Results 66.0% of cases were positive confirmed histology and (34.0%) cases were negative confirmed histology. There were highly statistically significant difference between Negative Confirmed histology and Positive Confirmed histology regarding RIPASA score, (AIR) score and Modified Alvarado Score. In this study, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) shows that the best cut off point of Modified Alvarado Score to detect Positive Modified Alvarado Score group was found &amp;gt;5 * with sensitivity of 87.88%, specificity of 64.71%, PPV of 82.9%, NPV of 73.3% and total accuracy of 77.0%. Conclusion the Appendicitis Inflammatory Response score and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis score have high discriminating powers and outperform the Modified Alvarado score. They could aid in selecting patients who require timely surgery or those who require further evaluation. Both these scores have the potential to turn out into scoring systems of choice if future research can substantiate our study findings.

Laparoscopic versus Open Appendectomy in Appendicitis Cases (Retrospective Comparative Study)

Abstract Background Appendectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries worldwide. It is commonly done by conventional open method but with progress of laparoscopic surgical procedures, laparoscopic appendectomy is also practiced nowadays. Ever since its initial description by Semm in 1983, laparoscopic appendectomy has struggled to prove its superiority over the open technique. The concept of minimal surgical trauma, resulting in significantly shorter hospital stay, less postoperative pain, faster return to daily activities has made laparoscopic surgery for acute appendicitis very attractive Objective To compare the intraoperative and post operative outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomies for Appendicitis cases. Patients and Methods This study was done from April 2022 to September 2022 on 60 patients with clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis admitted in surgical wards of Aldemerdash hospital. The patients were selected by random sampling technique. All the patients were followed every day in post operative period till they were discharged and then later followed for a period of 4 weeks in and out patients department. Results In the study, 8 patients in open group (26.7%) and 4 patients in laparoscopic group (13.3%) have post op fever. In the study, 8 patients in open group (26.7%) and 1 patients in laparoscopic group(3.3%) have post op wound infection. The difference was significant (p &amp;lt; 0.01) In the study, The mean hospital stay score was 1.77 ±0.728 days in the laparoscopic group and 7.73 ±1.363 days in the open group. The difference was significant (p &amp;lt; 0.0001). In the study, the mean score return to work was 9.6 days in laparoscopic and 17.67 days in the open group. The parameter difference was significant p &amp;lt; 0.0001 In the laparoscopic group, 26 (86.7%) patients were satisfied with cosmetic benefit, 4 (13.3%) patients were equivocally satisfied, 0 patients were unsatisfied. Conclusion We conclude that laparoscopic appendectomy is better than open appendectomy in respect to post operative pain, post operative complications, duration of the hospital stay, return to the work, cosmetic benefit. Duration of time of surgery is higher in laparoscopic compared to open appendectomy.

Laparoscopic versus Open Appendectomy in Appendicitis Cases (Retrospective Comparative Study)

Abstract Background Appendectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries worldwide. It is commonly done by conventional open method but with progress of laparoscopic surgical procedures, laparoscopic appendectomy is also practiced nowadays. Ever since its initial description by Semm in 1983, laparoscopic appendectomy has struggled to prove its superiority over the open technique. The concept of minimal surgical trauma, resulting in significantly shorter hospital stay, less postoperative pain, faster return to daily activities has made laparoscopic surgery for acute appendicitis very attractive. Objective To compare the intraoperative and post operative outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomies for Appendicitis cases. Patients and Methods This study was done from April 2022 to September 2022 on 60 patients with clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis admitted in surgical wards of Aldemerdash hospital. The patients were selected by random sampling technique. All the patients were followed every day in post operative period till they were discharged and then later followed for a period of 4 weeks in and out patients department. Results In the study, 8 patients in open group (26.7%) and 4 patients in laparoscopic group (13.3%) have post op fever. In the study, 8 patients in open group (26.7%) and 1 patients in laparoscopic group(3.3%) have post op wound infection. The difference was significant (p &amp;lt; 0.01) In the study, The mean hospital stay score was 1.77 ± 0.728 days in the laparoscopic group and 7.73 ±1.363 days in the open group. The difference was significant (p &amp;lt; 0.0001). In the study, the mean score return to work was 9.6 days in laparoscopic and 17.67 days in the open group. The parameter difference was significant p &amp;lt; 0.0001 In the laparoscopic group, 26 (86.7%) patients were satisfied with cosmetic benefit, 4 (13.3%) patients were equivocally satisfied, 0 patients were unsatisfied. Conclusion We conclude that laparoscopic appendectomy is better than open appendectomy in respect to post operative pain, post operative complications, duration of the hospital stay, return to the work, cosmetic benefit. Duration of time of surgery is higher in laparoscopic compared to open appendectomy.

The diagnostic value of serum hepcidin in acute appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis (AA) is the primary cause of acute abdomen in patients presenting to the emergency department with abdominal pain. Limited studies have explored the relationship between serum hepcidin levels and AA. This study aimed to measure serum hepcidin levels in patients undergoing surgery with a preliminary diagnosis of AA and to assess whether these levels can serve as a biochemical marker for diagnosing AA. This study included patients aged 18 or older who presented to the emergency department between April 2018 and May 2019 and underwent surgery with a diagnosis of AA. The cohort comprised 94 patients with surgical pathology results compatible with AA (Group A), 16 patients with results not compatible with AA (Group B), and 42 healthy controls. Serum hepcidin levels were measured from venous blood samples. Mean hepcidin levels were 1750±285 pg/mL in Group A, 1349±381 pg/mL in Group B, and 1066±225 pg/mL in the control group. Statistically significant differences in serum hepcidin levels were observed between Group A and the control group (p<0.05). Hepcidin levels were significantly higher in patients with AA compared to both the control group and patients with surgically confirmed non-AA pathology. Therefore, hepcidin may serve as a useful adjunct in diagnosing acute appendicitis.

Acute Appendicitis in the Elderly: Current Update on Management: Review Article

Acute appendicitis in the elderly is a difficult condition to diagnose and treat due to its atypical clinical presentation, the co-morbidities that these patients have and the risk of developing complications like perforation. The diagnosis involves the use of imaging modalities like computerized tomography and the treatment is by performing an appendectomy. Laparoscopic appendectomy is slowly becoming the gold standard in the surgical treatment of acute appendicitis in the elderly. We have conducted this review article to look at the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis in the elderly. The role of laparoscopic appendectomy in the surgical treatment of acute appendicitis in the elderly is also investigated.

Ultrasonography (US) examination of acute appendicitis (AA): diagnosis of complicated and uncomplicated forms and when US is not enough

Ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have high diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Nowadays imaging is part of the diagnostic algorithm of appendicitis and the advantages are demonstrated by the reduced negative appendectomies rates. US is the preferred first line imaging in acute appendicitis. The US diagnosis of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis is well characterized by different signs but the paradigm of US to take in mind is that the non-visualization of the appendix cannot exclude acute appendicitis. In US, when the appendix is not visualized, or US is inconclusive, second-line imaging examination should be performed. The aims of this pictorial are 1. to illustrate the US signs of complicated and uncomplicated AA; 2. to describe the conditions in which other imaging modalities should be performed to reach a definitive diagnosis.

Applying an explainable machine learning model might reduce the number of negative appendectomies in pediatric patients with a high probability of acute appendicitis

The diagnosis of acute appendicitis and concurrent surgery referral is primarily based on clinical presentation, laboratory and radiological imaging. However, utilizing such an approach results in as much as 10–15% of negative appendectomies. Hence, in the present study, we aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model designed to reduce the number of negative appendectomies in pediatric patients with a high clinical probability of acute appendicitis. The model was developed and validated on a registry of 551 pediatric patients with suspected acute appendicitis that underwent surgical treatment. Clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory features were included for model training and analysis. Three machine learning algorithms were tested (random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, logistic regression) and model explainability was obtained. Random forest model provided the best predictions achieving mean specificity and sensitivity of 0.17 ± 0.01 and 0.997 ± 0.001 for detection of acute appendicitis, respectively. Furthermore, the model outperformed the appendicitis inflammatory response (AIR) score across most sensitivity–specificity combinations. Finally, the random forest model again provided the best predictions for discrimination between complicated appendicitis, and either uncomplicated acute appendicitis or no appendicitis at all, with a joint mean sensitivity of 0.994 ± 0.002 and specificity of 0.129 ± 0.009. In conclusion, the developed ML model might save as much as 17% of patients with a high clinical probability of acute appendicitis from unnecessary surgery, while missing the needed surgery in only 0.3% of cases. Additionally, it showed better diagnostic accuracy than the AIR score, as well as good accuracy in predicting complicated acute appendicitis over uncomplicated and negative cases bundled together. This may be useful in centers that advocate for the conservative treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis. Nevertheless, external validation is needed to support these findings.

Introducing the ratio of cross diameters of the appendix for ultrasound diagnosis of acute appendicitis can significantly increase specificity.

To validate whether the introduction of the ratio of the cross diameters on the transverse section of the appendix (RATIO) ≤ 1.18 is useful for improving the ultrasound diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA). Data from 220 patients with AA and 110 patients with a normal appendix were retrospectively studied. The RATIO ≤ 1.18, maximal outer diameter (MOD) > 6mm, and a combination of RATIO ≤ 1.18 and MOD > 6mm were used for predicting AA. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were calculated. The RATIO ≤ 1.18, MOD > 6mm, and a combination of RATIO ≤ 1.18 and MOD > 6mm for predicting AA showed a sensitivity of 90, 100, and 90%; specificity of 79.1, 27.3, and 88.2%; and AUC of 0.845, 0.636, and 0.891, respectively. When comparing the outcomes between MOD > 6mm and a combination of MOD > 6mm and RATIO ≤ 1.18, the specificity and PPV increased from 27.3 to 88.2% and 73.3 to 93.8%, respectively (all P < 0.0001). The sensitivity and NPV decreased from 100 to 90% and 100 to 81.5%, respectively (all P < 0.0001). The AUC increased from 0.636 to 0.891 (P < 0.0001). When comparing the AUC of MOD > 6mm, and a combination of RATIO ≤ 1.18 and MOD > 6mm for predicting AA with the AUC in a previous study, there were no significant differences between each other (all P > 0.05). Introducing the RATIO ≤ 1.18 for the evaluation of AA can improve the diagnostic performance and significantly increase specificity.

Current use of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis is a common and time-sensitive surgical emergency, requiring rapid and accurate diagnosis and management to prevent complications. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in healthcare, offering significant potential to improve the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis. This review provides an overview of the evolving role of AI in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis, highlighting its benefits, challenges, and future perspectives. We performed a literature search on articles published from 2018 to September 2023. We included only original articles. Overall, 121 studies were examined. We included 32 studies: 23 studies addressed the diagnosis, five the differentiation between complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis, and 4 studies the management of acute appendicitis. AI is poised to revolutionize the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis by improving accuracy, speed and consistency. It could potentially reduce healthcare costs. As AI technologies continue to evolve, further research and collaboration are needed to fully realize their potential in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis.

Diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 for overall and complicated acute appendicitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 in acute appendicitis (AA). This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023450988). We included prospective and retrospective original clinical studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 in AA. A search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and OVID. Search terms and keywords were: (appendicitis OR appendectomy) AND (CA-125 OR CA125). Two independent reviewers selected the articles and extracted relevant data. Methodological quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 index. A synthesis of the results, standardization of the metrics, and three random-effect meta-analyses were performed. Five studies with data from 533 participants (including 219 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AA and 107 controls) were included in this review. The random-effect meta-analysis of serum CA-125 (AA vs controls) included 3 articles (125 AA and 70 controls) and resulted in a non-significant mean difference [95% CI] of -6.80 [-20.51, 6.92] U/mL (p = 0.33). The meta-analysis by subgroups that included only male patients resulted in a significant mean difference [95% CI] of 3.48 [0.46, 6.49] U/mL (p = 0.02). Although serum CA-125 does not appear to be a good overall marker for the diagnosis of AA, our subgroup analyses show that this marker could be useful for diagnosing AA in males. It also appears to be a potentially useful tool for discriminating complicated and uncomplicated AA. However, the limited number of included studies precludes drawing generalizable conclusions. Future prospective studies focused on males and in its potential ability to discriminate between complicated and uncomplicatedAAare required.Registration. PROSPERO (CRD42023450988).

Changes in Levels of Serum Cytokines and Chemokines in Perforated Appendicitis in Children.

Appendicitis is primarily diagnosed based on intraoperative or histopathological findings, and few studies have explored pre-operative markers of a perforated appendix. This study aimed to identify systemic biomarkers to predict pediatric appendicitis at various time points. The study group comprised pediatric patients with clinically suspected appendicitis between 2016 and 2019. Pre-surgical serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), intercellular cell-adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and endothelial selectin (E-selectin) levels were tested from day 1 to day 3 of the disease course. The biomarker values were analyzed and compared between children with normal appendices and appendicitis and those with perforated appendicitis (PA) and non-perforated appendicitis. Among 226 pediatric patients, 106 had non-perforated appendicitis, 102 had PA, and 18 had normal appendices. The levels of all serum proinflammatory biomarkers were elevated in children with acute appendicitis compared with those in children with normal appendices. In addition, the serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels in children with PA were significantly higher, with an elevation in TNF-α levels from days 1 and 2. In addition, serum IL-6 levels increased significantly from days 2 and 3 (both p < 0.05). Serum ICAM-1 and E-selectin levels were elevated in the PA group, with consistently elevated levels within the first three days of admission (all p < 0.05). These results indicate that increased serum levels of proinflammatory biomarkers including IL-6, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and E-selectin could be used as parameters in the prediction and early diagnosis of acute appendicitis, especially in children with PA.

Predictive factors for recurrent acute appendicitis after conservative treatment

Introduction Conservative treatment of acute appendicitis is gaining popularity, and identifying patients with a higher risk of recurrence is becoming increasingly important. Previous studies have suggested that older age, male sex, diabetes, appendicolith and abscess formation may be contributing factors, however, results from the adult population are inconsistent. Aim This study aims to identify predictive factors for recurrent appendicitis after conservative treatment. Methods This retrospective study included patients with conservatively treated acute appendicitis at Skåne University Hospital, Sweden during 2012-2019. Information on patient demographics at index admission and follow-up data were retrieved from medical charts and radiologic images. Uni -and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed using Stata Statistical Software. Results In total, 379 patients with conservatively treated acute appendicitis were identified, of which 78 (20.6%) had recurrence. All patients were followed-up for a minimum of 41 months after the first diagnosis of acute appendicitis unless appendectomy after successful conservative treatment or death occurred during follow-up. The median time to recurrence was 6.5 (1–17.8) months. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, external appendix diameter >10 mm [OR 2.4 (CI 1.37–4.21), p = .002] and intra-abdominal abscess [OR 2.05 (CI 1.18–3.56), p = .011] on computed tomography were significant independent risk factors for recurrent appendicitis. Appendicolith was not associated with an increased risk of recurrence. Conclusion This study suggests abscess formation and appendix distension of >10 mm to be potential risk factors for recurrent acute appendicitis after initial successful conservative treatment.

Acute Appendicitis in Children with Hematological Malignancies: The Need for Early Diagnosis and Prompt Treatment—A Single-Center Case Series

Abstract Introduction Appendicitis in patients with hematological malignancies presents with vague symptoms, thus requiring a high degree of suspicion for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. Objectives The aim of this article was to describe the demographic, clinicoradiological, operative findings, and outcomes in patients with acute appendicitis with underlying hematological malignancies. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of pediatric patients with hematological malignancy who developed acute appendicitis was conducted. Medical records of patients were reviewed for patient demographics, disease status, signs, and symptoms at the time of diagnosis of acute appendicitis, and outcome. The laboratory, radiological, and histological findings were retrieved from the hospital records. Results Six (2.4%) patients developed acute appendicitis over the past 8 years among a total of 254 patients treated for hematological malignancies in the unit. Five patients had underlying acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and one had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Of the five patients, three were in postremission consolidation, one each in the delayed intensification and maintenance phase of chemotherapy. The child with AML was on induction chemotherapy for the first relapse at the time of diagnosis. Fever and abdominal pain were the common presenting symptoms. Diagnosis was made on ultrasound abdomen in five patients, and one patient was diagnosed on computed tomography. All patients underwent open appendectomy. Two patients had evidence of appendiceal perforation. Three patients had neutropenia at the time of developing appendicitis and underwent appendectomy regardless of the absolute neutrophil count (ANC). Five patients recovered well, and chemotherapy was restarted within 2 weeks of appendectomy. One patient developed a superficial surgical site infection. and one patient with relapsed AML expired due to refractory septic shock. Conclusion Acute appendicitis in patients with hematological malignancies can present with subtle signs and symptoms. Appendectomy can be safely performed irrespective of the ANC.

A prospective observational comparative study to compare the diagnostic efficacy of the Fenyo Lindberg scoring system and Yash scoring system in patients of acute appendicitis in tertiary care hospitals in central India

Background Acute appendicitis is a typical surgical emergency requiring prompt and accurate diagnosis for timely intervention. This prospective observational comparative study aims to assess the diagnostic efficacy of two scoring systems, the Yash scoring system and the Fenyo-Lindberg scoring system, compared to the gold standard of histopathological diagnosis. The study is conducted at A.V.B.R.H., a tertiary care hospital in Central India, focusing on providing valuable insights into the comparative performance of these scoring systems in the local patient population. Methods The study adopts a prospective observational comparative design, enrolling clinically diagnosed cases of acute appendicitis from the outpatient and inpatient departments of the Surgery department at A.V.B.R.H. Patients willing to undergo surgery are included. At the same time, those with complicating factors or contraindications are excluded. Data collection involves thorough clinical evaluations, scoring system assessments, and comprehensive investigations, with histopathology as the reference standard. Statistical analyses include descriptive statistics, comparative analyses, primary outcome assessments, and regression analyses, ensuring a robust evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of the scoring systems. Expected Outcome Anticipated outcomes include a comprehensive understanding of the diagnostic efficacy of the Yash and Fenyo-Lindberg scoring systems in acute appendicitis. The study aims to identify which scoring system demonstrates superior accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, providing valuable information for clinical decision-making. The results will contribute to optimizing diagnostic protocols for acute appendicitis, potentially influencing patient management and surgical interventions. This study’s findings are expected to be relevant to the local setting and broader contexts, enhancing the knowledge surrounding acute appendicitis diagnosis.

Emphasizing the Clinical Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis Amidst Technological Advancements.

Background The clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) can be challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of this diagnosis amidst technological progress. It compared clinical diagnosis to radiology-aided diagnostic outcomes and negative appendicectomy rates (NAR). Methodology This study conducted a single-center retrospective and prospective cohort observational study on all adult patients presenting with suspected AA in 2018 at a major tertiary teaching hospital in Perth, Western Australia. Key demographics, clinicopathological, radiology, and operative reports were reviewed. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.27. Results Of 418 patients with suspected AA, 234 (56%) were in the retrospective group. The median age was 35 (IQR=26), and 224 (54%) were female. The overall NAR was 18.6% (95% CI (14.8-22.4)) and 20.8% for clinical diagnosis. Notably, the NAR for ultrasound (USS)-reported AA (false positive) was 17.6% (95% CI (10.6-27.4)). Three-quarters of the patients, 298 (71.3%), had radiological imaging. The most common modality was CT 176 (59.1%), and 33 (7.9%) had both CT and USS imaging performed. Compared with final histopathology, no significant difference was found in the accuracy of clinically diagnosed and USS-diagnosed cases, with rates of 83.5% and 82.5%, respectively (p=0.230). CT had the best positive predictive value at 82.1%. Single-modality imaging did not cause a significant surgical delay (p=0.914), but multi-modal imaging showed a non-significant trend toward delay (p=0.065). When surgeons assessed an appendix as normal, 54 (12.9%), the histopathological assessment revealed pathology in 28 (51.9%). The inter-observer agreement was only fair to moderate, Kappa=0.46 (95% CI (0.33-0.58); p<0.001). The intraoperative identification of a normal appendix inversely correlated to the grade of the primary surgeon, which was likely related to the number of surgical personnel in the theater (p<0.001). Conclusion This study showed that clinical diagnosis matches the diagnostic accuracy of imaging technologies. Utilizing diagnostic imaging methods promptly and appropriately did not lead to considerable delays in surgery. Surgeons' capability to diagnose appendicitis during surgery is moderately accurate. Most patients underwent imaging, with CT scans being the most common. Moving forward, practitioners must minimize excessive reliance on imaging techniques as this can be resource-intensive, especially in developing countries. Future clinical practice should balance embracing technological advancements and preserving essential clinical diagnostic expertise, for medicine is both a science and an art.

Poor Compliance to Clinical Guidelines in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis: Insights from a National Survey.

Background: Many scoring systems, algorithms, and guidelines have been developed to aid in the evaluation and diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA). Many of these algorithms advocate against the routine use of radiological investigations when there is a high clinical suspicion of AA. However, there has been a significant rise in the use of imaging techniques for diagnosing AA in the past two decades. This is a national study aimed at assessing the adherence of residents assigned to the emergency department to the clinical guidelines for diagnosing AA. Methods: We introduced a case study of a male patient with highly suspicious clinical findings of AA to all surgical and emergency medicine residents assigned to the emergency department with the autonomy to make critical decisions to determine the preferred way of diagnosing AA. Results: A total of 62.4% of all relevant residents participated in this survey; 69.6% reported that the Alvarado score was eight or higher, and 82.1% estimated that the next step recommended by most clinical guidelines was appendectomy without further abdominal imaging tests. However, 83.4% chose to perform an imaging test to establish the diagnosis of AA. Conclusions: Our study revealed a notable non-adherence to clinical guidelines in diagnosing AA. Given the significance of these guidelines, we assert that adopting medical recommendations should not solely depend on individual education but should also be incorporated as a departmental policy.