Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in Acute Appendicitis: A State Hospital Experience

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assert the diagnostic value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in cases diagnosed as acute appendicitis. Method: The data of 112 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis who were operated on by the same surgical team between January 2014 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Acute appendicitis patients included in the study were divided into two groups as uncomplicated (group 1) and complicated appendicitis (group 2) based on histopathology results. Group 3 consisted of healthy control subjects (n=50) who applied to the general surgery clinic. Results: There were 71 patients in group 1, 34 patients in group 2 and 50 patients in the control group (group 3). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of age or gender. Significant differences emerged in leukocyte and NLR. There was a significant difference between group 1 and group 2 in terms of radiological appendix diameter and contamination around the appendix and fluid accumulation (p=0.001). However, a significant difference was not detected between NLR increase and contamination around the appendix, fluid accumulation, or appendix diameter. Conclusion: We think that NLR, which can be taken from whole blood count in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, is a parameter that can be easily used because of its low cost and easy accessibility.

Keywords

• Appendicitis
• complicated appendicitis
• lymphocyte
• neutrophil