Appendicitis Laboratory Studies

Laboratory studies can be helpful in the diagnosis of appendicitis, but no single test is definitive. A white blood cell count (WBC) is perhaps the most useful laboratory test. Typically, the WBC is slightly elevated in nonperforated appendicitis, but may be quite elevated in the presence of perforation. The clinician must remember, however, that the WBC can be normal in patients with acute appendicitis, particularly in early cases. Serial WBC measurements improve the diagnostic accuracy, with a rising value over time commonly seen in patients with appendicitis. Urinalysis is performed to diagnose other potential causes for abdominal pain, specifically urinary tract infection and ureteral stone. Significant hematuria with colicky abdominal pain suggests ureterolithiasis, and testing directed at this diagnosis is indicated. A urinary tract infection, on the other hand, is not uncommon in patients with appendicitis. Its presence does not exclude the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, but it should be identified and treated. Although pyuria suggests urinary tract infection, it is not uncommon for the urinalysis in a patient with appendicitis to show a few white blood cells solely due to inflammation of the ureter by the adjacent appendix.

In certain patient populations, other laboratory tests are indicated. Measurement of serum liver enzymes and amylase can be helpful in diagnosing liver, gallbladder, or pancreatic disease in patients complaining of mid-abdominal or right upper quadrant pain. In women of childbearing age, the urine -human chorionic gonadotropin should be checked to alert the clinician to the possibility of ectopic or concurrent pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is another cause of right lower quadrant pain that demands emergent diagnosis and treatment. Concurrent pregnancy should be known before a patient with suspected appendicitis is subjected to ionizing radiation from imaging studies or to general anesthesia.