What is the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of calf vein thrombosis?
Abdulwadud O
Record ID 32003000691
English
Authors' objectives:
This aim of this report was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of calf vein thrombosis.
Authors' recommendations:
- Seven studies that met inclusion and exclusion criteria were retrieved. They were systematic reviews (2), meta-analyses (2), prospective studies (2), and one retrospective review. Of these seven studies, four evaluated the accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting calf thrombosis and compared it to venography.
- The studies showed variable diagnostic characteristics for ultrasonography. - Sensitivity: Ranging from 13% to 100%. - Specificity: Ranging from 79% to 98%. - Positive predictive value: Ranging from 60% to 95%. - Negative predictive value: Ranging from 55% to 100%.
- There were significant methodological problems associated with the retrieved studies that included: - Variations in the study population or patient spectrum (symptomatic, asymptomatic, outpatients, inpatients). - Inadequate descriptions of patient spectrum, setting, and characteristics of study subjects. - Retrieval and publication biases: The keyword calf was not included in the search terms in the systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The literature search for the reviews was also limited to Medline database and there was hardly any attempt to identify unpublished articles. - Differences in the study design or review method across the retrieved articles.
Authors' methods:
Review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/healthservices/cce/evidence/
Year Published:
2001
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Australia
MeSH Terms
- Ultrasonography
- Venous Thrombosis
Contact
Organisation Name:
Centre for Clinical Effectiveness
Contact Address:
Monash Institute of Health Services Research, Block E, Monash Medical Centre, Locked Bag 29, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9594 7505; Fax: +61 3 9594 7552.
Contact Name:
cce@med.monash.edu.au.
Contact Email:
cce@med.monash.edu.au.
Copyright:
Centre for Clinical Effectiveness (CCE)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.