The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2010 , Vol 52 , Num 4
Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of childhood appendicitis
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey
Total leukocyte count (TLC) and neutrophil count are not reliable parameters
in the diagnosis of appendicitis in children, necessitating a search for more
sensitive criteria. This study’s goal was to investigate the diagnostic value
of neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio in childhood appendicitis.
The patients admitted for acute abdominal symptoms were reviewed retrospectively. Data collected included initial preoperative TLC, together with neutrophil and lymphocyte values. N/L ratio was calculated by dividing the values obtained.
One hundred eighty-three of 240 patients were treated operatively and were proven as appendicitis histopathologically. The other observed 57 cases were accepted as non-specific abdominal pain (NAP). 90.2% of the appendicitis group and 12.3% of the NAP group had N/L ratio higher than 3.5. The results indicate that N/L ratio seems to be a more sensitive parameter than TLC when evaluated retrospectively. N/L ratio of 3.5 can be used in the prediction of appendicitis in children.
Keywords : appendicitis, acute abdomen, diagnosis, neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio.