Abstract
Knowledge of the sensitivity and specificity of relevant imaging studies is critical to the design of cost-effective clinical algorithms. In developing a cost-effectiveness analysis for cervical spine injuries, we encountered a paucity of data on the specificity of plain radiographs for the detection of cervical spine fracture. Therefore, we measured the specificity of cervical spine radiography in trauma patients at various levels of risk for fracture. A random sample of trauma patients who underwent cervical spine radiography were selected for each of several clinical scenarios. The numbers of false-positive and true-negative studies were determined from radiology records, and specificity was calculated. Specificity ranged from a low of 72% in patients who sustained a pelvic fracture from a fall to a high of 96% in all patients who sustained nonpenetrating trauma. In patients at high risk for cervical spine fracture, the specificity of radiography was relatively low. Understanding of radiographic specificity can aid in the development of imaging guidelines.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 283-286 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Emergency Radiology |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1997 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Cervical spine radiography
- Cost-effectiveness
- Specificity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Cite this
Specificity of cervical spine radiography : Importance of clinical scenario. / Blackmore, C. C.; Deyo, Richard (Rick).
In: Emergency Radiology, Vol. 4, No. 5, 1997, p. 283-286.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Specificity of cervical spine radiography
T2 - Importance of clinical scenario
AU - Blackmore, C. C.
AU - Deyo, Richard (Rick)
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Knowledge of the sensitivity and specificity of relevant imaging studies is critical to the design of cost-effective clinical algorithms. In developing a cost-effectiveness analysis for cervical spine injuries, we encountered a paucity of data on the specificity of plain radiographs for the detection of cervical spine fracture. Therefore, we measured the specificity of cervical spine radiography in trauma patients at various levels of risk for fracture. A random sample of trauma patients who underwent cervical spine radiography were selected for each of several clinical scenarios. The numbers of false-positive and true-negative studies were determined from radiology records, and specificity was calculated. Specificity ranged from a low of 72% in patients who sustained a pelvic fracture from a fall to a high of 96% in all patients who sustained nonpenetrating trauma. In patients at high risk for cervical spine fracture, the specificity of radiography was relatively low. Understanding of radiographic specificity can aid in the development of imaging guidelines.
AB - Knowledge of the sensitivity and specificity of relevant imaging studies is critical to the design of cost-effective clinical algorithms. In developing a cost-effectiveness analysis for cervical spine injuries, we encountered a paucity of data on the specificity of plain radiographs for the detection of cervical spine fracture. Therefore, we measured the specificity of cervical spine radiography in trauma patients at various levels of risk for fracture. A random sample of trauma patients who underwent cervical spine radiography were selected for each of several clinical scenarios. The numbers of false-positive and true-negative studies were determined from radiology records, and specificity was calculated. Specificity ranged from a low of 72% in patients who sustained a pelvic fracture from a fall to a high of 96% in all patients who sustained nonpenetrating trauma. In patients at high risk for cervical spine fracture, the specificity of radiography was relatively low. Understanding of radiographic specificity can aid in the development of imaging guidelines.
KW - Cervical spine radiography
KW - Cost-effectiveness
KW - Specificity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030830536&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030830536&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF01461733
DO - 10.1007/BF01461733
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0030830536
VL - 4
SP - 283
EP - 286
JO - Emergency Radiology
JF - Emergency Radiology
SN - 1070-3004
IS - 5
ER -