Sonography versus the Alvarado Scoring System for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Various imaging tests as well as different scoring systems based on symptoms, signs and laboratory findings are commonly used to improve diagnostic accuracy in acute appendicitis. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of MANTRELS scoring system (designed by Alfredo Alvarado), which is based on symptoms, signs and laboratory results, with sonographic findings. In this prospective observational study, 106 patients with acute abdomen suspicious of acute appendicitis at Sina Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, were studied from March 2004 to February 2006. The disease was most common in patients aged 20-29 years, with male predominance.