COUNTING CLUES: LEUKOCYTE LEVELS VS HISTOPATHOLOGY IN ACUTE APPENDICITIS

OBJECTIVES To determine the sensitivity and specificity of total leukocyte count in diagnosing acute appendicitis MATRIAL AND METHODS The study was done at Maqsood Medical Complex and General Hospital Peshawar from August 2023 to January 2024. This was preceded by mandatory approval hospital research committee. The inclusion criteria were patients of acute appendicitis diagnosed on basis of history, clinical examination and relevant investigations. The exclusion criteria were patients having abdominal pain due to other causes such as gall stones. Patients were assessed by a senior surgeon before enlisting the patient for appendectomy. After the operation, the appendix specimen was being collected, placed in formalin solution and sent for histopathology report. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 23 software package. Mean and SD were applied to quantitative data. Frequency % was be applied for categorical data. The sensitivity and specificity, positive as well as negative predictive value plus accuracy of leukocytosis was then be determined by using histopathology RESULTS According to the results mean age of the patient was 32 years with SD ± 7.84.  38% of them were males while 62% were females. Diagnostic accuracy of AP on total leukocyte count and histopathology as gold standard was analyzed as the sensitivity was 78%, specificity was 27%, Positive predictive value was 94%, Negative predictive value was 8% and the overall diagnostic accuracy was 75%. CONCLUSION Our study concludes total leucocyte count is an effective test for diagnosis of acute appendicitis, though this has to be accepted that history and appropriate clinical examination will add to the clinical diagnosis