The value of clinical symptoms, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and ultrasonographic features in predicting adnexal torsion: A case-control study

Abstract

Aim: Adnexal torsion remains a diagnostic challenge due to the nonspecific symptoms, sonographic features, and laboratory findings. The value of combining clinical, sonographic, and laboratory features is not well established, and controversy continues regarding their value in diagnosis. This study aimed to review sonographic, clinical, and laboratory features and to analyze their value separately and in combination, in managing and diagnosing adnexal torsions.

Methods: The study included 278 women who underwent urgent laparoscopic surgery due to suspected adnexal torsion, according to clinical suspicion, with or without sonographic concordance. Laparoscopy findings confirmed the definitive diagnosis of torsion. Clinical laboratory and sonographic features were compared between those with and without adnexal torsion.

Results: Adnexal torsion was confirmed in 110/278 (39.6%) women. In the torsion compared to nontorsion group, proportions were higher of women with acute abdominal pain in the preceding 24 h ([50] 45.5% vs. [35] 20.8%, p < 0.001), with vomiting ([45] 40.9% vs. [24] 14.3%, p < 0.001) and with suspected torsion by transvaginal sonography ([49] 44.5% vs. [23] 13.7%, p < 0.001). A high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (>3) was identified in 65 (59.1%) of the study group and 60 (35.7%) of the control group (p < 0.001). Combining the latter three findings, the predicted probability of torsion was 58%-85%, depending on the combinations.

Conclusions: A simple predictive model based on combinations of clinical, laboratory, and sonographic findings can contribute to preoperative diagnosis of adnexal torsion, with predicted probability of 85%. Our model may assist clinicians in evaluating women with suspected adnexal torsion, and improve preoperative diagnostic accuracy.

Keywords: NLR; acute abdominal pain; ovarian cyst; ovarian torsion; ultrasound.