title: How accurate is computer-aided diagnosis?
abstract: A computer program for diagnosis of acute abdominal pain (CAD-A) was compared with an amended program (DIAG) and with clinical performance. The programs were tested at three Scottish hospitals, representing a range of practice, in 6962 cases. Accuracy of CAD-A lay in the range 48-59%, and of DIAG 56-62%. Clinical accuracy was constant at 65%. These figures suggest that computer systems based on Bayes' formula have no useful role in the diagnosis of acute abdominal pain.
authors.affiliation: Pontefract Health Authority, Ackton Hospital.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Sutton
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012985:Software Design