The specificity and sensitivity of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute right lower quadrant pain in women of child bearing age

Objective: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in differentiating causes of acute right lower quadrant pain in women of child-bearing age by taking surgical outcome as the gold standard. Methods: The descriptive analytical study was conducted at PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi, from July to December 2008, and comprised female patients of child-bearing age who presented with acute right lower quadrant pain and underwent surgery after ultrasonography. SPSS 10 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Of the 75 patients, 54(72%) patients were symptomatically and sonographically positive to have either acutely inflamed non-compressible appendix or focal fluid collection in right lower quadrant with normal pelvic viscera. Sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 84% were calculated. Conclusion: Ultrasound had a sensitivity and specificity justifying its usage as a good diagnostic tool in emergency situations to avoid undue surgical interventions.