en Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Original Research Original Research <p> <strong>Abstract</strong></p><p> <strong>Background:</strong> Misdiagnosis of the acute appendicitis may increase the rate of negative</p><p> appendectomies, which involve a huge waste of resources and are sometimes</p><p> associated with severe complications. Furthermore, false negative result of ultrasonography</p><p> (US) could lead to perforation of appendix. Since ultrasonography is still</p><p> the most common imaging technique used in Iranian appendicitis patients, the study focused</p><p> on evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonograghy in an educational hospital in Iran.</p><p> <strong>Methods:</strong> We retrospectively reviewed the results of ultrasonograghy in 270 patients</p><p> who referred to Rasoul-e-Akram hospital in Tehran, Iran, between April 2002</p><p> and October 2004 with acute abdominal symptoms suggestive of appendicitis. The</p><p> results of ultrasonography were compared with the histopathologic reports of biopsies</p><p> as a gold standard. In data analysis Chi-square, independent t-test and Mann-</p><p> Whitney U-test were performed.</p><p> <strong>Results: </strong>The accuracy of ultrasonograghy in acute appendicitis was 60.4% and</p><p> the rate of negative appendectomy was 17.4%. Diagnostic values of US were calculated</p><p> as the sensitivity of 55.4% [95% confidence interval (CI)=48.6-62], specificity</p><p> of 72.3% (95%CI=57.1-83.9), positive predictable value (PPV) of 90.4% (95%CI=</p><p> 83.9-94.6) and negative predictable value (NPV) 25.6% (95%CI=18.6-34).</p><p> <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although the results of our study implied that the diagnostic values</p><p> of ultrasonography were not considerable, but it is still the only imaging techniques</p><p> available for patients in Iran. In reference to the low NPV, using an alternative technique</p><p> such as abdominal CT scan is recommended. More attention must be paid on</p><p> the signs and symptoms related to acute appendicitis in such patients especially in</p><p> teaching hospitals.</p> Acute appendicitis, ultrasonography, diagnostic value, accuracy 200 207 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-127&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Rasoul Azizi 20031947532846001336 20031947532846001336 No Negin Farsi 20031947532846001337 20031947532846001337 No Tahmineh Motevasseli 20031947532846001338 20031947532846001338 No Seyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad mohammad@stu.iums.ac.ir 20031947532846001339 20031947532846001339 Yes Abdoreza Khatami 20031947532846001340 20031947532846001340 No