Comparing presentation and diagnostic accuracy for conscripts and nonconscripts who have already been selected for appendectomy.

BACKGROUND

The evaluation of acute appendicitis (AA), the most common cause of acute abdomen, in conscripts is important, specifically when it seems that the probability of malingering for secondary gains (such as exemption) is high, and surgeons may lose some cases of AA through this assumption.

METHODS

In this analytic cross-sectional study, 455 male conscripts with suspected AA were compared with 142 male individuals between 14 and 26 years of age who had already been selected for appendectomy.

RESULTS

The mean age (+/-SE) was 20.4+/-0.08 years. There were no statistically significant differences between the case and control groups in terms of age, rates of different symptoms and signs, quality and duration of pain, vital signs, and laboratory findings.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference between conscripts and others in terms of the presentation of AA and its accurate diagnosis. Therefore, it is recommended that military physicians approach conscripts with suspected AA like other patients.