Diagnostic value of abdominal ultrasound in patients with acute appendicitis and analysis of the expression of related inflammatory factors.

Abstract

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that, if left un-treated, can be life-threatening. Abdominal ultrasound helps diagnose it and differentiate it from other causes of abdominal pain. This study aimed to evalu-ate the diagnostic value of abdominal ultrasound in acute appendicitis (AA) and assess inflammatory factor levels in different types of appendicitis. One hundred patients with AA were selected as the observation group, and 30 pa-tients with simple abdominal pain as the control group. Among the 100 AA patients, 37 (37%) cases had blurred appendiceal boundaries, 24 (24%) cases had fecal calculus in the appendix cavity, 13 (13%) cases had enhanced echo intensity of surrounding fat, 15 (15%) cases presented enlarged outer diameter of the appendix (> 6mm), one (1%) case had peripheral lymphadenopathy, and one (1%) case had peripheral effusion. None of the cases (0%) presented a pe-ripheral mass. The levels of white blood cells (WBC) and inflammatory factors: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL -6), and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)) patients with uncomplicated appendicitis were lower than those with suppurative appendicitis, gangrenous appendicitis, or peri-appendiceal abscess (p <0.05). The blurred boundary of the appendix, fecal stones in the appendix cavity, an enlarged outer diameter of the appendix (> 6mm), and an enhanced echogenicity of the surrounding fat are the most common ultrasonic signs of AA. Abdominal ultrasound has an excellent diagnostic value on pathological types of AA. The increase in the level of inflammatory factors can indicate the severity of the disease to a certain extent.