title: The effects of clinical data on radiological diagnostic performance in middle-face trauma.
abstract: To determine the effect of clinical information on the radiological diagnostic performance in middle-face injury, the medical records and radiographs of 618 patients with middle-face injury were reviewed. The information value of clinical data given in each x-ray requisition was evaluated. The radiological diagnoses were compared with the final clinical diagnoses both retrospectively and prospectively (with and without clinical data). Knowledge of clinical data with statistical significance changed the reader's decision threshold towards improved sensitivity but poorer specificity. Clinical data did not improve the radiologists' performance. Clinical data may be helpful in diagnostic tasks rather by increasing the sensitivity than the specificity.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinnunen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Göthlin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tötterman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paukku
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hopfner-Hallikainen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mankinen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heiro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solonen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pietilä
mesh_terms: D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis