Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: Infection of the internal female genital organs.

50% from Chlamydia trachomatis. Others: Neisseria gonorrheae, mycoplasma, etc.

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Sensitive and Specific Findings

95%

93%

note: small series

Study: J Infect. 2000 Jan;40(1):31-41. PMID: 10762109

95%

85%

Study: J Infect. 2000 Jan;40(1):31-41. PMID: 10762109

Specific Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Purulent endocervical secretion	23%	93%	in 61 women with non-specific lower abdominal pain. Study: Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2002;10(4):171-80; PMID: 12648310
Proctitis Symptoms	10%	92%	Study: Sex Transm Infect. 2003 Dec;79(6):491-4. PMID: 14663128
Rebound	25%	90%	in 61 women with non-specific lower abdominal pain. Study: Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2002;10(4):171-80; PMID: 12648310
Emesis	14%	88%	Study: Sex Transm Infect. 2003 Dec;79(6):491-4. PMID: 14663128

Sensitive Findings

93%

in 61 women with non-specific lower abdominal pain

Study: Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2002;10(4):171-80; PMID: 12648310

87%

50%

NOTE: very large CI for specificity (5-100%)!

Study: J Infect. 2000 Jan;40(1):31-41. PMID: 10762109

Negative Findings

50%

40%

Study: J Infect. 2000 Jan;40(1):31-41. PMID: 10762109

93%

in 61 women with non-specific lower abdominal pain

Study: Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2002;10(4):171-80; PMID: 12648310

Poorly Diagnostic Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Vaginal Bleeding	25%	77%	Study: Sex Transm Infect. 2003 Dec;79(6):491-4. PMID: 14663128
Vaginal discharge	40%	73%	in 61 women with non-specific lower abdominal pain. Another meta-analysis gave 74%/24%. Study: Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2002;10(4):171-80; PMID: 12648310 Sex Transm Infect. 2003 Dec;79(6):491-4. PMID: 14663128
Adnexal Mass	52%	70%	palpable Study: Sex Transm Infect. 2003 Dec;79(6):491-4. PMID: 14663128
hearing loss	47%	64%	Study: Sex Transm Infect. 2003 Dec;79(6):491-4. PMID: 14663128
Menstrual Irregularity	45%	57%	Study: Sex Transm Infect. 2003 Dec;79(6):491-4. PMID: 14663128
Elevated ESR	80%	50%	Study: J Infect. 2000 Jan;40(1):31-41. PMID: 10762109
Cervical motion tenderness	63%	40%	in 61 women with non-specific lower abdominal pain Study: Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2002;10(4):171-80; PMID: 12648310
Abdominal US	Sensitivity = 78%		Study: J Infect. 2000 Jan;40(1):31-41. PMID: 10762109