Clinical Study

Ultrasound for Appendicitis: Performance and Integration with Clinical Parameters

Table 4

Integration of ultrasound with pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnosis of pediatric appendicitis.

US positive
N (% appendicitis)
US negative
N (% appendicitis)
Patients
(N)

PAS
 0–37 (0%)116 (0%)123
 4–659 (93%)143 (7%)202
 7–1040 (100%)37 (31%)77

CRP (mg/L)
 <1536 (89%)191 (5%)227
1574 (91%)122 (8%)196

PAS 5 + CRP < 59 (50%)118 (3%)127

Diagnostic performance% (95% CI)

Negative US + CRP < 15Sens. 92 (85–96), spec. 60 (54–65), PPV 47 (40–54), NPV 95 (91–97), LR+ 2.26 (1.95–2.60), LR− 0.14 (0.08–0.26)

Negative US + PAS 5 + CRP < 5Sens. 98 (92–99), spec. 41 (36–48), PPV 39 (34–46), NPV 98 (92–99), LR+ 1.66 (1.45–2.01), LR− 0.05 (0.03–0.15)

US: ultrasound; CRP: C-reactive protein; PAS: pediatric appendicitis score; PPV: positive predictive value; NPV: negative predictive value; CI: confidence interval; LR: likelihood ratio; patients lacking PAS () or CRP () were not included.