Evaluation of the Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score for Patients with Acute Appendicitis

Excerpt

The role of clinical diagnosis and diagnostic techniques in the management of patients with suspicion of acute appendicitis (AA) is controversial. Clinical diagnosis with repeat examination after observation in unclear cases is regarded as unreliable, impractical, and outdated. Diagnostic imaging with routine computed tomography (CT) scan or a combination of ultrasound (US) examination and selective CT scan in unclear cases is often proposed as the ultimate solution. This antagonism between clinical diagnosis and imaging is, however, based on misunderstanding and simplification. We need all diagnostic techniques in the arsenal, but we need to better define the role for each of them. …