Abstract
OBJECTIVE. A meta-analysis was performed to compare low-dose CT and standarddose CT in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis with an emphasis on diagnostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A systematic literature search for articles published through June 2016 was performed to identify studies that compared low-dose CT with standard-dose CT for the evaluation of patients suspected of having acute appendicitis. Summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity with 95% CIs were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model. Meta-regression was used to perform statistical comparisons of low-dose CT and standard-dose CT. RESULTS. Of 154 studies, nine studies investigating a total of 2957 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of low-dose CT were 96.25% (95% CI, 91.88-98.31%) and 93.22% (95% CI, 88.75-96.0 0%), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of standard-dose CT were 96.40% (95% CI, 93.55-98.02%) and 92.17% (95% CI, 88.24-94.86%), respectively. In a joint model estimation of meta-regression, low-and standard-dose CT did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.71). Both low-and standard-dose CT seem to be characterized by high positive and negative predictive values across a broad spectrum of pretest probabilities for acute appendicitis. CONCLUSION. Low-dose CT is highly effective for the diagnosis of suspected appendicitis and can be considered a valid alternative first-line imaging test that reduces the potential risk of exposure to ionizing radiation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | W198-W207 |
Journal | American Journal of Roentgenology |
Volume | 208 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© American Roentgen Ray Society.
Keywords
- Appendicitis
- Low-dose CT
- Meta-analysis
- Sensitivity
- Specificity