title: Prospective comparative study of ultrasound, CT-scan, scintigraphy and laboratory tests to detect hepatic metastases.
abstract: The conventional methods of CT scan (CT), ultrasound (US), scintigraphy (SC), and laboratory tests (LDH, AP, 5-Nt) were prospectively compared in 135 patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma to define the most useful test to detect hepatic metastases. Thirty-six patients (26.7%) had hepatic metastases at laparotomy. Sensitivities were low: 46% for SC, 58% for US, 68% for CT and 63% for LDH. Accuracies ranged from 62% (LDH) to 78% (SC). No significant differences were found. Accurate and efficient detection of hepatic metastases is hampered by the relatively low sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of conventional imaging and laboratory tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Brauw
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van de Velde
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Pauwels
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bok
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bloem
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Aarts
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hermans
mesh_terms: D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase