Computed tomography in advanced ovarian cancer: an evaluation of diagnostic accuracy

The authors have investigated the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis in the assessment of patients prior to second-look laparotomy for advanced ovarian cancer. CT studies (read independently by three radiologists) and laparotomy findings were analyzed in 50 patients. Sensitivity varied from 0.30 to 0.65 among the radiologists, specificity from 0.44 to 0.89, positive predictive value from 0.50 to 0.73, and negative predictive value from 0.60 to 0.70. Receiver operator curve analysis of the data indicated poor performance of CT as a diagnostic test. The authors also examined some problems in interpreting their data and that of others in the literature, in particular, the influence of potential sources of bias.