title: [Survey of clinical diagnoses and autopsy findings. Autopsy findings and sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for clinical diagnosis during the periods 1 July 1980-30 June 1081 and 1 July 1990-30 June 1993].
abstract: The sensitivity, specificity and clinical accuracy of clinical diagnoses were determined and compared for two periods of time: 1.7.1980-30.6.1981 and 1.7.1990-30.6.1993 based on the analysis of 286 and 138 autopsies respectively. The autopsy rate decreased from 82.7% in the first period to 11.2% in the second. The first period shows a generally higher sensitivity and accuracy for positive diagnosis. Both periods reveal the lowest sensitivity for pulmonary embolism and the lowest accuracy for positive clinical diagnosis of pneumonia/bronchopneumonia. For malignancies and arteriosclerotic heart diseases significant discrepancy between the periods was demonstrated using the chi 2-test. The results are influenced by low autopsy rates causing fewer true-positive diagnoses and a declining sensitivity. This type of study is a useful tool for demonstrating changes in the diagnostic procedure. The present investigation demonstrates a need for further analysis of malignancies to explain the simultaneous decrease in sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in spite of an increasing number of malignancies in autopsy findings.
authors.affiliation: Patologisk Anatomisk Institut, Hjørring Sygehus.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hjorth
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Noer
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002423:Cause of Death; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003933:Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
vernacular_title: Undersøgelse af kliniske diagnoser og obduktionsfund. Obduktionsfund og sensitivitet, specificitet og proediktive voerdier for klinisk diagnostik i perioderne 1.7.1980-30.6.1981 og 1.7.1990-30.6.1993.