title: Prediction rules for computed tomography in the dementia assessment: do they predict clinical utility of CT?
abstract: Neuroimaging is widely employed in the dementia assessment in refining clinical decision-making. However, with rising interest in cost-effective medical practice, efforts have been made in the literature to define clinical prediction rules that select for a subgroup of patients who would most likely benefit from neuroimaging. This short study examined the ability of a group of published clinical predictors to identify patients whose diagnoses or management would be influenced by CT scan results. The study finds that none of the published predictors bears a significant relationship to actual influence of CT scans in a group of memory clinic patients, highlighting the need for the development of clinical predictors for neuroimaging that will impact patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Care of the Elderly, Division of Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. K_condefer@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Condefer
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haworth
authors.forename: Gordon K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wilcock
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures