title: Predictive value of palpation per rectum vs milk and serum progesterone levels for the diagnosis of bovine follicular and luteal cysts.
abstract: Diagnosis of bovine follicular and luteal cysts by palpation per rectum was compared with diagnosis by progesterone status, as determined by an enzymeimmunoassay (EIA). A 2x2 contingency table analysis allowed the calculation of predictive value, sensitivity and specificity for the palpation diagnosis of both cyst types. The results were 75.0, 61.9 and 50.0% for follicular cysts and 35.1, 50.0 and 61.9% for luteal cysts, respectively. The EIA results were compared to radioimmunoassay (RIA). The predictive value for a low progesterone determination (<5ng/ml) was 91.8% and for high progesterone (5ng/ml or >) it was 83.3%. The sensitivity and specificity for the EIA were both 88.2%. Within the EIA system, milk and serum samples agreed a total of 85 out of 87 times (97.7%). Definitive diagnosis of follicular or luteal cysts should not be based upon palpation per rectum alone. The EIA was found to be the better definitive diagnostic technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. 24061 USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sprecher
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Nebel
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Whittier