scholarly journals Diagnostic accuracy of acute appendicitis by comparing clinical judgment of surgeons and Alvarado scoring in suspected acute appendicitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 2725
Author(s):  
Ishory Bhusal ◽  
Chandra Shekhar Agarwal ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Gupta ◽  
Suresh Prasad Sah
Keyword(s):  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Alvarado Score ◽  
Suspected Appendicitis ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Background: The Alvarado score is a clinical scoring system used in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The aim of the study was to compare the clinical judgment of surgeons and Alvarado score in diagnosing acute appendicitis within Nepalese people and to refine the score and suggest a new score to make a more accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis.Methods: In this prospective, parallel-group, quasi-randomized study of patients presenting at a tertiary hospital in eastern Nepal with suspected appendicitis during 1 year were assigned in weekly alternation to either group A or group B. The group A patients were treated on the basis of their Alvarado score, and the group B patients based on the clinical judgment. The correctness of the methods was assessed by the final histology.Results: In this study, the mean age of patients in Alvarado group was 26.45 years and in clinical judgment was 28.68 years. The sensitivity, the specificity, the diagnostic accuracy, the positive predictive value and negative appendectomies in Alvarado group were 95.5%, 68.9%, 90.91%, 93.4% and 6.56% respectively whereas in clinical judgment group were 98.51%, 85.71%,496.4%, 97.04% and 3.59% respectively.Conclusions: This study showed clinical judgment to be more reliable in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis than the Alvarado score, but the score is a useful diagnostic aid, especially for young colleagues. The use of the new scoring system has become easier. It includes fewer criteria as well as an important and sensitive predictor: the ultrasound investigation.

scholarly journals Accuracy of Alvarado Scoring System and Selective Computed Tomography in Diagnosis of Suspected Cases of Acute Appendicitis

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 01-11
Author(s):  
Abbas AR Mohamed ◽  
Safaa A Mobarki ◽  
Ashwag H Al Qabasani ◽  
Nusiba A Al Shingiti ◽  
Alaa A El Sayed
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Ct Scan ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Oral Contrast ◽  
Middle Group ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of combined Alvarado scoring system and selective computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of suspected cases of acute appendicitis. Material and methods: This study was conducted during the period March 2018 to January 2020 at Prince Mohammed bin Abdul-Aziz hospital (NGHA) in Al Madinah, KSA. It is a prospective study involving 100 consecutive patients attending the emergency department with right iliac fossa pain, excluding children below the age of 14 years and pregnant women. All patients were initially assessed by the Alvarado scoring system, and the result of each patient was recorded in a separate predesigned data sheath. Based on the patient's calculated Alvarado scores, patients were stratified into three groups: Group A (score ≤ 4), Group B (score 5-6), and group C (score ≥ 7). All patients in group A were discharged from the emergency department with instruction to return if their symptoms persist or get worse while all patients in group B had an abdominal multidetector CT scan (MDCT) with IV contrast and no oral contrast to help the diagnosis. Group C patients had surgery without further investigation. Alvarado scores were compared to intraoperative findings and histopathological examination of the removed appendix in those who were operated. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the scoring system in each group were calculated with special reference to the role of CT scan in improving the diagnostic accuracy of the scoring system in the middle group (group B). Result: 58 patients were male and 42 were female. Age range between 14 and 43 years with median age 24 years. Out of the 100 patients, 14 (8 males, 6 females) belonged to Group A, 23 (11 males, 12 females) to Group B and 63 (39 males, 24 females) to group C. Two patients from group A (one male and one female) were returned with worsening symptoms and subsequently operated for acute appendicitis. CT scan established the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in 16 out of the patients of group B with subsequent histological confirmation of acute appendicitis in 15 of them. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in 32 out of 63 patients of group C. Conclusion: Alvarado score has a high accuracy of ruling in and out acute appendicitis at the extremes of the score (≤7 and ≥4), however, the accuracy of the score to confirm or rule out acute appendicitis in the middle group (5 -6) is significantly low. Selective utilization of CT scan in patients in the middle of the score improves the diagnostic accuracy of the score and limits overutilization of CT scan in the other patients at the extremes of the score saving patients unnecessary exposure to radiation and health authorities’ time and cost without increasing the rate of negative appendectomy.

scholarly journals Validity of RIPASA scoring system as a diagnostic tool of acute appendicitis in comparison with Alvarado scoring system in the Arab population

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 2011
Author(s):  
Tamer M. Abdelrhman ◽  
Mohammed S. Al Saeed ◽  
Samir A. Badr ◽  
Mohamed A. Shaban ◽  
Aseel Abuduruk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Iliac Fossa ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Arab Population ◽  
Alvarado Score

Background: RIPASA scoring has been developed to replace the disappointingly low accuracy Alvarado score in Asian population for diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Objective of present study was to compare the RIPASA and Alvarado score in Arab population and determine their accuracy when applied to our patients in Egypt and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).Methods: By applying the RIPASA and Alvarado scores to 100 patients from KSA, 100 patients from Egypt who presented to emergency with right iliac fossa pain. The decisions for appendicectomy were based on clinical judgment only. Histopathology as gold standard was correlated with both scores. ROC curve analysis, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, diagnostic accuracy for RIPASA and Alvarado system were calculated using SPSS version 20.Results: On comparing both the scoring system in patients of both hospital groups, we found that sensitivity of RIPASA scoring is greater than Alvarado scoring system 95.51% and 73.03% respectively in BTH group, and 97.56% and 79.27% respectively in KASH group, while the specificity of RIPASA scoring system is less than Alvarado scoring system 72.73% and 81.82% respectively in BTH group and 66.67% and 83.33% respectively in KASH group.Conclusions: In our Arab population the RIPASA score could be applied in diagnosis of acute appendicitis with higher sensitivity, NPV and diagnostic accuracy compared to the Alvarado score.

“A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RIPASA SCORE AND ALVARADO SCORE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS”

2021 ◽  
pp. 25-28
Author(s):  
M. Vijaya Kumar ◽  
Manasa Manasa
Keyword(s):  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Scoring Systems ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Alvarado Score ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Ripasa Score

Acute appendicitis is the most common condition encountered in the Emergency department .Alvarado and Modied Alvarado scores are the most commonly used scoring system used for diagnosing acute appendicitis.,but its performance has been found to be poor in certain population . Hence our aim was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of RIPASA and ALVARADO Scoring system and study and compare sensitivity, specicity and predictive values of these scoring systems. The study was conducted in Government district hospital Nandyal . We enrolled 176 patients who presented with RIF pain . Both RIPASA and ALVARADO were applied to them. Final diagnosis was conrmed either by CT scan, intra operative nding or post operative HPE report. Sensitivity,specicity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, diagnostic accuracy was calculated both for RIPASA and ALVARADO. It was found that sensitivity and specicity of the RIPASA score in our study are 98.7% and 83.3%, respectively. PPV and NPV were 98.1% and 88.2% and sensitivity and specicity of the Alvardo score in our study are 94.3% and 83.3%, respectively. PPV and NPV were 98% and 62.5%.Diagnostic accuracy of RIPASA score and Alvarado score are 97% and 93% respectively. RIPASA is a more specic and accurate scoring system in our local population when compared to ALVARADO . It reduces the number of missed appendicitis cases and also convincingly lters out the group of patients that would need a CT scan for diagnosis (score 5-7.5 ) BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is one of the most commonly dealt surgical emergencies, with a lifetime prevalence rate of approximately 1 one in seven. The incidence is 1.5–1.9 per 1,000 in the male and female population, and is approximately 1.4 times greater in men than in women. Despite being a common problem, it remains a difcult diagnosis to establish, particularly among the young, the elderly and females of reproductive age, where a host of other genitourinary and gynaecological inammatory conditions can present with signs and symptoms that are 2 similar to those of acute appendicitis. A delay in performing an appendectomy in order to improve its diagnostic accuracy increases the risk of appendicular perforation and peritonitis, which in turn increases morbidity and mortality. A variable combination of clinical signs and symptoms has been used together with laboratory ndings in several scoring systems proposed for suggesting the probability of Acute Appendicitis and the possible subsequent management pathway. The Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (RIPASA) and ALVARADO score are new diagnostic scoring systems developed for the diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis and has been shown to have signicantly higher sensitivity, specicity and diagnostic accuracy. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES PRIMARY OBJECT 1. To compare RIPASA Scoring system and ALVARADO Scoring system in terms of diagnostic accuracy in Acute Appendicitis. 2. To study and compare sensitivity, specicity and predictive values of above scoring systems. SECONDARY OBJECT 1. To study the rate of negative appendicectomy based on above scoring systems. CONCLUSION: The RIPASA score is a simple scoring system with high sensitivity and specicity for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The 14 clinical parameters are all present in a good clinical history and examination and can be easily and quickly applied. Therefore, a decision on the management can be made early. Although the RIPASA score was developed for the local population of Brunei, we believe that it should be applicable to other regions. The RIPASA score presents greater Diagnostic accuracy and Sensitivity and equal specicity as a diagnostic test compared to the Alvarado score and is helpful in making appropriate therapeutic decisions. In hospitals like ours, the diagnosis of AA relies greatly on the clinical evaluation performed by surgeons. An adequate clinical scoring system would avoid diagnostic errors, maintaining a satisfactory low rate of negative appendectomies by adequate patient stratication, while limiting patient exposure to ionizing radiation, since 21 there is an increased risk of developing cancer with computed tomography, particularly for the paediatric age group.

scholarly journals Clinico-pathological and etiological evaluation of acute appendicitis and assessment of significance of laboratory and ultrasonography examination as an ancillary aid to clinical diagnosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1954
Author(s):  
Sailendra Nath Paul ◽  
Dilip Kumar Das
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Lower Abdominal Pain ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Alvarado Score ◽  
Negative Appendicectomy ◽  
Operative Findings

Background: Timely diagnosis and intervention of acute appendicitis reduces morbidity and mortality associated with the disease condition. The study aimed to evaluate the etiology of acute appendicitis, to analyze the sensitivity of modified Alvarado scoring system and radiology in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and to correlate the observations of laboratory tests, operative findings with the histopathological report of specimen of appendix.Methods: This was a prospective study done on 100 patients with clinical symptoms of acute right lower abdominal pain suggestive of appendicular origin during the period from February 2015 to January 2016 in the department of surgery thorough clinical assessment, laboratory investigations, ultrasound findings as were done for all patients. After confirming the diagnosis of AA the patients had operative intervention and specimens were sent for histopathological study.Results: Male preponderance was seen in the study. Majority of them belongs to 21 to 30 years age group (50%). Faecolith was the most common etiological factor observed (58%). Abdominal pain (100%) was the most common clinical symptom. Alvarado score had sensitivity of 95.74% and specificity of 66.67% in diagnosing AA. In correlation to histopathological findings, ultrasonography findings showed 100% positive visualization rate in all 71 cases. Elevated ESR (94%) had high diagnostic accuracy as confirmed by HPE finding (96.81%) which is statistically significant (p<0.000).Conclusions: Alvarado scoring system, elevated ESR levels and USG findings of the appendix can be considered as adjuncts to clinically diagnose the AA, to improve the diagnostic accuracy thereby consequently the rate of negative appendicectomy can be reduced and thus decreases the complication rates.

scholarly journals A three year prospective study-suspected acute appendicitis: diagnostic accuracy of modified Alvarado score versus ultrasonography in adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 3924
Author(s):  
Murhari D. Gaikwad ◽  
Anand Auti ◽  
Avinash Magare
Keyword(s):  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Alvarado Score ◽  
Suspected Appendicitis ◽  
Modified Alvarado Score ◽  
Suspected Acute Appendicitis

Background: To evaluate and compare diagnostic accuracy of modified Alvarado score and ultrasonography in co-relation to histopathology report for diagnosis of acute appendicitis.Methods: A prospective study of the patients who underwent appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis at IIMS and R Medical College and Noor Hospital Warudi, Badnapur, Dist. Jalna (Maharashtra). The clinical (radiological) and ultrasonography data of 760 patients with suspected appendicitis was collected between March 2014 to Feb. 2017. These patients were evaluated by modified Alvarado score and ultrasonographically, which was corrected with histopathological finding.Results: Out of 760 patients 69.34% had acute appendicitis 63.81% had modified Alvarado score≥7 and 58.28% patients were ultrasonographically positive. In present study modified Alvarado score has sensitivity of 89.37% specificity 93.99% positive predictive value 97.11%, negative predictive value 79.64%, diagnostic accuracy of 81.32%.Conclusions: Modified Alvarado score can be used effectively in clinical decision making. When compare with ultrasonography neither one is advantageous. However, additional information provided by ultrasonography improves diagnostic accuracy.

scholarly journals Diagnostic Accuracy of the Alvarado Scoring System in Patients Undergoing Appendicectomy at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
Songiso Mutumba ◽  
◽  
J Mulundika ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Roc Curve ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Alvarado Score ◽  
Negative Case ◽  
The University

Background: The use of the Alvarado scoring system as a tool for diagnosing acute appendicitis has been associated with a reduction of negative appendicectomies. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Alvarado scoring system at predicting acute appendicitis in patients undergoing appendicectomy at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). Methods: A prospective study was done to evaluate the diagnostic value of the Alvarado score in patients undergoing appendicectomy at the UTH. Data was collected from the participants diagnosed with acute appendicitis and undergoing appendicectomy. The Alvarado scores for all the participants enrolled into the study were tabulated and correlated with the histopathology results. The sensitivity and the specificity of the Alvarado score was determined and used to construct the ROC curve using the SPSS version 20. The area under the curve was used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Alvarado score in this study. Setting: The University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Results: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Alvarado score the ROC curve test was run in SPSS version 20. The results showed that the area under the curve was C=0.842 with SE=0.047 and 95% CI from 0.750 to 0.934. The area under the curve represents the probability that the Alvarado score result for a randomly chosen positive case will exceed the result for a randomly chosen negative case. It shows from the ROC that the Alvarado score is a good indicator to anticipate acute appendicitis. In other words, these results have confirmed that the Alvarado scoring system has very high predictive ability to discriminate acute appendicitis from normal appendix subjects. Conclusion: The use of the Alvarado scoring system as a tool for diagnosing acute appendicitis at UTH will reduce the rate of negative appendicectomies. This will lead to a reduction in unnecessary operations, which are a burden on the health care system.

scholarly journals A comparative study of RIPASA score and ALVARADO score in diagnosis of acute appendicitis

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 796
Author(s):  
Vamsavardhan Pasumarthi ◽  
C. P. Madhu
Keyword(s):  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Roc Curve ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Alvarado Score ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Ripasa Score

Background: The RIPASA Score is a new diagnostic scoring system developed for the diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis which showed higher sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy compared to ALVARADO Score, particularly when applied to Asian population. Not many studies have been conducted to compare RIPASA and ALVARADO scoring systems. Hence, author want to compare prospectively Alvarado and RIPASA score by applying them to the patients attending the hospital with right iliac fossa pain that could probably be acute appendicitis.Methods: A prospective analysis of 116 cases admitted with RIF pain during a 2 years period was performed. Patients between 15-60 years were scored as per Alvarado and RIPASA scoring system. Histopathological reports of the cases were collected and compared with the scores. ROC curve area analysis was performed to examine diagnostic accuracy of RIPASA and ALVARADO scores.Results: The sensitivity of ALVARADO score is estimated to be 52.08 for a cut off of 6. The specificity is 80%, positive predictive value is 92.59, negative predictive value is 25.81. The Diagnostic accuracy of ALVARADO scoring is found to be 56.9. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of RIPASA scoring system are 75%, 65%, 91.14%, 35.14%. The diagnostic accuracy of RIPASA score is 73.28.Conclusions: The difference in the diagnostic accuracy between ALVARADO and RIPASA scoring system is significant indicating that the RIPASA score is a much better diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. When the ROC curve was observed the area under the curve is high for RIPASA scoring system.

scholarly journals Study of evaluation of Alvarado scoring system in acute appendicitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Shashidhara Puttaraju ◽  
Deva Keerthana D. Y.
Keyword(s):  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Alvarado Score ◽  
Suspected Appendicitis ◽  
Diagnostic Modalities ◽  
Surgery Department ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Union Territory

Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgically correctable acute abdomen presenting at emergency department worldwide. Inspite of all advances in diagnostic modalities and surgical techniques, diagnosis remains difficult sometimes as a challenge and delayed decision making complicates this surgical disease. Alvarado scoring system is one of available scoring system for diagnosis of acute appendicitis, based on history, clinical examination, lab investigations and easy to apply, helps in clinical decision regarding planning surgery and avoid negative laparotomies. The aim of the study was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of Alvarado scoring system in preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis and correlating with postoperative findings.Methods: This study was conducted in 100 cases of suspected appendicitis admitted in surgery department of Rajiv Gandhi Speciality Hospital, Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, Union territory of India, from July 2015 to June 2017 adopting Alvarado scoring system. Results were analyzed.Results: Out of 100 patients admitted with suspected acute appendicitis, number of cases operated suspecting acute appendicitis were 83 of which 80 were found to have acutely inflamed appendix. Results of Alvarado score of operated patients are as follows: 80 patients had score 7-10, and 3 patients had score 5-6, patients with Alvarado score <5 (17 pts) were managed conservatively.Conclusions: The Alvarado scoring system is a simple and useful diagnostic tool for diagnosis of acute appendicitis with acceptable sensitivity and specificity and can be used with high degree of accuracy. Our findings suggest that patients presenting with abdominal pain and Alvarado scores greater than 7 are more likely to have appendicitis.

Evaluation of the Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score against Alvarado Score in Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-72
Author(s):  
O.B. Karki ◽  
N.K. Hazra
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Receiver Operating Curve ◽  
P Value ◽  
Diagnostic Challenge ◽  
Alvarado Score ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Suspected Appendicitis ◽  
Response Score

Background Patients presenting with suspected appendicitis pose a diagnostic challenge. Various scoring systems have been designed to aid in the clinical assessment of these patients. Widely applied was Alvarado score and best performed in validating studies, but was observed with few drawbacks. Appendicitis inflammatory response (AIR) score was designed to overcome the drawbacks associated with the implementation of Alvarado scoring system. Objective The main objective of this study was to evaluate the Appendicitis inflammatory Response Score and compare its performance in predicting risk of appendicitis with the Alvarado score. Method Appendicitis inflammatory response score and Alvarado scores were calculated prospectively on patients suspected of acute appendicitis presenting to Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal between July 2017 and June 2019. Diagnostic performance of the two scores was compared. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21 and p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Result The study included 217 patients with 109 (50.2%) males and 108 (49.8%) females. The mean age of patients was 25.77±15.54. The results analyzed showed better sensitivity of Appendicitis Inflammatory Response score (96.91%) as compared to 94.30% of Alvarado score. The positive and negative predictive values of Alvarado score were 74.87% and 50%, as compared to 79.70% and 72.20% for AIR score. Furthermore, the area under receiver operating curve of the appendix inflammatory response score was better (0.701) than that of Alvarado score (0.580). Conclusion Appendicitis Inflammatory Response (AIR) scoring performed well and more accurate than Alvarado scoring system with high specificity and high negative predictive value preventing negative appendectomies.

The SLAPPA (Significance of Lower Abdominal/Periumbilical Piercing as a predictor of acute Appendicitis) audit

Sexual Health ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan Ahmed ◽  
Matthew K. Boulter ◽  
Dileep N. Lobo
Keyword(s):  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Iliac Fossa ◽  
Final Diagnosis ◽  
Female Patients ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Background: Anecdotal observations among medical staff suggest that young women with periumbilical piercing presenting with right iliac fossa pain are more likely to have pelvic inflammatory disease than acute appendicitis because of an unconventional lifestyle. This audit was performed to test the validity of this prejudice. Methods: The clinical data of all female patients aged 16–45 years admitted to a teaching hospital with suspected acute appendicitis were collected prospectively over six months. Patients who had undergone previous appendicectomy or gynaecological surgery, those with known Crohn’s disease, or those on antibiotics at the time of admission were excluded. Results: 107 patients with a median age of 29.7 years (range 15–45 years) were studied. Thirty-two patients had periumbilical piercing (Group A) and 75 patients did not (Group B). Fifty-nine out of 107 (55.14%) were operated upon. Ten (31.2%) patients in Group A had histologically confirmed acute appendicitis compared with 25 (33.3%) in Group B. Other diagnoses in Group A included non-specific abdominal pain (n = 13, 40.6%), urinary tract infection (4, 12.5%), pelvic inflammatory disease (4, 12.5%) and ovarian cyst (1, 3.1%). Corresponding figures for patients in Group B were 30 (40.0%), 8 (10.7%), 7 (9.3%) and 4 (5.3%) respectively. None of the differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Conclusions: There was no difference in the frequency of a final diagnosis of acute appendicitis or pelvic inflammatory disease in female patients with and without periumbilical piercing. Health care professionals should not allow their clinical judgment to be prejudiced by the presence of body piercing.

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