Abstract
Aim: To determine the diagnostic performance of the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in pediatric patients with suspected acute appendicitis.
Method: descriptive, cross-sectional, observational and correlational study of diagnostic tests. We selected 51 individuals between 3-16 years old with histopathology performed at the ”Manuel de Jesus Rivera” Children’s Hospital during the period from June to August 2016. We analyzed the differences between means using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a diagnostic threshold was determined using Areas Under the Curve (ROC).
Results : The diagnostic yield of NLR in suppurative appendicitis was: Sensitivity (SE) 94%, Specificity (SP) 40% (95% CI: 0.44-0.68, P: 0.97); Appendicitis gangrenous SE: 92% and SP: 80.7% CI 95%: 0.68-0.92, P: 0.01); Perforated appendicitis SE: 70% and SP 96.1% (95% CI: 0.62-0.99, P: 0.002).
Conclusion: RNL is useful in the diagnostic approach for patients with acute gangrene and suppurative appendicitis.
Key words: Acute appendicitis, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, diagnostic utility.