Premium
Efficacy of computed tomography in the management of cancer patients
Author(s) -
Male Ross S.,
Bronskill Michael J.,
Rideout David F.,
Blend Ralph,
Herman Steven,
Poon Peter Y.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19831101)52:9<1604::aid-cncr2820520911>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - medicine , radiology , pelvis , abdomen , computed tomography , thorax (insect anatomy) , tomography , cancer , nuclear medicine , anatomy
An evaluation was made of 1030 computed tomography (CT) scans performed on cancer patients. Seventy percent of the scans taken were of the pelvis, abdomen, or thorax. Both referring clinicians and radiologists rated the diagnostic and management efficacy of each scan using a simple scale of values. Over 50% of the scans provided unique diagnostic information: 39% resulted in a change in diagnosis or in known extent of disease; and 14% led to a change in patient management. The fraction of abnormal results was not a reliable measure of efficacy. Specific groups of patients were identified, which demonstrated that both diagnostic and management efficacy should be measured in assessing the value of CT as a diagnostic modality.