Author: Selwyn D, Yang D, Heward E, Kerai A, Thompson E, Shommakhi A, Faulkner S, Siau R, Walijee H, Hampton T, Chudek D, Singhera S, Din W, Lau AS
Abstract: Objectives: Our primary aim was to validate the Liverpool Peritonsillar abscess Score (LPS) externally in a new patient cohort. Our secondary aim was to modify the LPS in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic to produce a no-examination variant for use in this instance.
Design: Prospective, multicentre external validation study SETTING: Six different secondary care institutions across the United Kingdom PARTICIPANTS: Patients over 16 years old who were referred to ENT with any uncomplicated sore throat such a tonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess (PTA) MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for both the original LPS model and the modified model for Covid-19.
Results: The LPS model had sensitivity and specificity calculated at 98% and 79% respectively. The LPS has a high negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%. The positive predictive value (PPV) was slightly lower at 63%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, including the area under the curve (AUROC) was0.888 which indicates very good accuracy.
Conclusions: External validation of the LPS against an independent, geographically diverse population yields high NPV. This may support non-specialist colleagues who may have concerns about mis-diagnosing a PTA. The Covid-19 Modification of the LPS has a similar NPV, which may be of use where routine oral examination is to be avoided during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keywords: Peri-tonsillar abscess; diagnosis; dysphagia; swallowing.
