Pain. 1988 Apr; 33(1): 79-80.

The lack of importance of Lanwei point in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Levy JH, Texidor MS.

Department of Anesthesia, Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, LA 70112.

Fifty patients with a presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis based on usual Western medicine criteria (e.g., McBurney point tenderness, increase WBC, history of nausea, etc.) were examined prospectively for tenderness of the Lanwei acupoint, just prior to the administration of general anesthesia, to evaluate this well known 'Appendix' point as a useful aid to diagnosing appendicitis. The presence or absence of tenderness was statistically not a good indicator of appendicitis.