Critically Appraised Topics: Diagnosis
(February 08)
In a 48 y.o. woman with episodic elevations in transaminases, what is the utility of anti smooth muscle Ab to dx autoimmune hepatitis?
(January 08)
In a 65-year-old man with a history of smoking, with a solitary pulmonary nodule, what is the diagnostic accuracy of trained dogs for detecting lung cancer?
(March 07)
In a 40 year old male presenting with a first episode of syncope what is the diagnostic utility of ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter) in diagnosing etiology of syncope? (Addendum: probably more appropriate is what is its utility in so-called "unexplained" syncope = negative H&P and EKG).
(January 07)
In a 45 yo man with hypertension and a negative renal artery duplex done for refractory hypertension, what is the value of an aldosterone-renin ratio in the diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism?
(November 06)
In a 52 yo man with asymptomatic elevation of PSA (4.6), what is the value of free PSA testing for the diagnosis of prostate cancer?
(October 06)
In an asymptomatic pre-/perimenopausal woman, how good is a bimanual exam for detection of ovarian cancer (or adnexal masses)?
(May
06)
In a 25 yo female with a single pap result of ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) with unknown HPV status, on thin prep, what is the likelihood that she has cervical cancer?
(April
06)
In a patient with cirrhosis, what is the utility of screening annually with alpha fetoprotein to diagnose HCC (i.e. does screening improve mortality from HCC)?
(October 05)
How useful is digital rectal exam (DRE) in diagnosis of prostate cancer?
(August 05)
In a 79 year old female suspected of having osteomyelitis of the toe (on the basis of ) what is the diagnostic utility of MRI? Does measuring CRP play a clinical role in the care of this patient should she prove to have osteomyelitis?
(June 05)
In a patient with known risk factors for CAD, what is the diagnostic utility of cardiac CT in the diagnosis of CAD?
(March 05)
In a 56 year old female with diarrhea and risk factors for C. difficile, what is the diagnostic utility of c. diff antigen/toxin A done 3 times versus once in diagnosing Clostridium Difficile colitis?
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In patients with low back pain, what is the diagnostic utility of a straight leg raise test for nerve compression or irritation?
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this search in PubMed*
(February 05)
In patients with clinically suspected chronic pancreatitis, what is the diagnostic value of serum amylase and lipase?
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(January 05)
What is the diagnostic value of hypokalemia in predicting hyperaldosteronism in hypertensive patients?
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(November 04)
In patients presenting with dyspnea of unknown etiology, what is the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio of the BNP test in identifying heart failure as a cause?
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(October 04)
In patients with suspected rheumatoid arthritis, what is the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios of the anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide) test?
(September 04)
What is the diagnostic utility of a negative induced sputum for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in an HIV patient with CD4 below 200 on PCP prophylaxis?
(Aug 04)
What is the diagnostic utility (sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio) of a positive NG tube aspirate in the diagnosis of upper GI bleed?
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