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Appendicitis: Evaluation of Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predictive Values of US, Doppler US, and Laboratory Findings¹

Nicolas Kessler, MD, Catherine Cyteval, MD, PhD, Benot Gallix, MD, PhD, Alvian Lesnik, MD, Paul-Marie Blayac, MD, Joseph Pujol, MD, Jean-Michel Bruel, MD and Patrice Taourel, MD, PhD

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Lapeyronie Hospital, 371 Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France (N.K., C.C., A.L., P.M.B, J.P., P.T.) and the Department of Radiology, Saint-Eloi Hospital, Montpellier, France (B.G., J.M.B.). Received November 15, 2002; revision requested January 21, 2003; final revision received May 16; accepted June 25. Address correspondence to P.T. (e-mail: p-taourel@chu-montpellier.fr).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of ultrasonography (US), Doppler US, and laboratory findings in the diagnosis of appendicitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 125 consecutive patients suspected of having appendicitis were prospectively included for US appendiceal (diameter enlarged to 6 mm or greater, intraluminal fluid, lack of compressibility) and periappendiceal (periileal inflammatory changes, cecal wall thickening, periileal lymph nodes, peritoneal fluid) evaluation, Doppler US evaluation (appendiceal wall signal), and laboratory assessment (leukocytosis, C-reactive protein [CRP]). Definite diagnoses were established at surgery in 61 patients, at endoscopy with biopsy in two patients, and at clinical follow-up in 62 patients.

RESULTS: The prevalence of appendicitis was 46%. The appendix was identified with US in 86% of the patients, which included 96% of patients with and 72% of patients without appendicitis. The most accurate appendiceal finding for appendicitis was a diameter of 6 mm or larger, with a sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of 98%. The lack of visualization of the appendix with US had an NPV of 90%. The most accurate periappendiceal finding of appendicitis was the presence of inflammatory fat changes, with an NPV of 91% and a PPV of 76%, whereas other findings had both NPV and PPV less than 65%. An increase in both white blood cell (WBC) count and CRP level had a PPV of 71%, whereas combined normal WBC count and CRP value had an NPV of 84%.

CONCLUSION: A threshold 6-mm diameter of the appendix under compression is the most accurate US finding for appendicitis and has high NPV and PPV.

© RSNA, 2003

Index terms: Appendicitis, 751.291 • Appendix, US, 751.12981, 751.12983 • Ultrasound (US), comparative studies • Ultrasound (US), Doppler studies

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