Diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography [CT] in patients with neck and mediastinal lymphoma and correlate with gold standard histopathology results

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of Computed Tomography [CT] in patients with neck and mediastinal lymphoma and correlate with gold standard histopathology results. Period: This study was conducted during six months period extended from March 2013 to September 2013. Setting: Department of diagnostic radiology, Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi

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Methodology: A total of 366 patients presenting with sign and symptoms such as fever, night sweats, weight loss or having any swelling in the cervical region were included and CT was performed; regardless of scan result suggestive of either presence or absence of lymphoma; patients were followed and histopathological findings of each patient was collected and recorded on Performa. Other demographic variables were also obtained and data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [SPSS] -17

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Results: Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value as well as accuracy of computed tomography in the detection of neck andmediastinal lymphoma were found to be 75%, 89.9%, 59.2, 94.8% and 87.4% respectively. For patients with 10 months duration of disease, the accuracy of CT scan was observed as 84.7% and 93.6% respectively

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Conclusion: CT scan is cross-section modality of choice for evaluating patients with suspected malignant tumors. CT is readily available and has high accuracy in distinguishing a mass compared with other tumors