Influence of symptom duration and WBC profile on the negative predictive value of a nondiagnostic ultrasound in children with suspected appendicitis
Author / Expert
Mark Kashtan, Dionne Graham, Seema Anandalwar, Jonathan Hills-Dunlap, Shawn Rangel
Topic overview
Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to explore the combined negative predictive value (NPV) of symptom duration and WBC profile in children with a nondiagnostic ultrasound (US) for appendicitis.
Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of children with suspected appendicitis at a single children's hospital from 1/2010 to 3/2018. NPVs based on WBC profile and symptom duration at presentation were calculated individually and combined for children with a nondiagnostic US.
Results
2277 patients were included, of which 1018 (44.7%) had a nondiagnostic US. The NPV of a nondiagnostic US ranged from 83.7% with ≤24 h of symptoms to 94.5% with >72 h of symptoms (p
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