[Comparative study between alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in the diagnosis of hepatic metastases]

Diagnostic values of alkaline phosphatases (AP) and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) in hepatic metastases were compared in 48 patients with digestive carcinomas. The study was a prospective one conducted under blind conditions. The AP was less sensitive (0.50) than the GGT (0.86) but was more specific (0.96 as against 0.88). Diagnostic value of GGT (0.87) was therefore greater than of AP (0.75). Positive predictive value of AP was 0.70 and of GGT 0.57. The risk of detecting hepatic metastases was 9% if the AP was normal and 2% if the GGT was normal.