Doraiswamy NV, 1979, UK | 375 children admitted with clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis | Diagnostic test study | WCC>15000 (0–10 years) or WCC>10000 (10–15 years) | Sens 42%; Spec 97%; LR+ 12.5; LR− 0.60 | Unclear if blinded No gold standard No follow up of non-operative cases |
| 225 found to have acute appendicitis, 50 with a normal appendix, and 100 in whom symptoms resolved spontaneously | | | | |
Miskowiak J and Burcharth F, 1982, Denmark | 238 patients admitted with suspected acute appendicitis | Diagnostic test study, blinded | WCC>15000. | Sens 19%; Spec 85%; LR+ 1.26; LR− 0.95 | No gold standard |
| 74 were below 15 years | | | | |
Peltola H et al, 1986, Sweden | 162 children (1.9–15.6) admitted with suspected acute appendicitis | Diagnostic test study | WCC>15000. Histology | Sens 60%; Spec 84%; LR+ 3.75; LR− 0.48 | Unclear if blinded No gold standard No follow up of non-operative cases |
Lau WY et al, 1989, Australia | 1389 patients (1–87), with right lower abdominal pain, consistent with appendicitis | Diagnostic test study, blinded | WCC>15000 (group 1–10). WCC>13000 (group 10–15). Histology | Sens 60.5%; Spec 100%; LR+ INF; LR− 0.35 | No gold standard Not analysed by age specific WCC Raw data not available for analysis by age group |
| 177 children (1–15) | | | | |
| Non-operative group followed up at 2 and 6 weeks | | | | |