Cancer: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: Malignant neoplasm is often on the differential diagnosis of patient presentations, especially patients with so-called "B symptoms" such as fevers or weight loss.

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Prevalence

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

Specific Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Weight loss	46%	94%	in unselected patients admitted to the hospital Study: Rom J Intern Med. 1999 Jul-Sep;37(3):261-7. PMID: 15532304
Elevated ESR	52%	89%	>=50mm/hr. in unselected patients admitted to the hospital Study: Rom J Intern Med. 1999 Jul-Sep;37(3):261-7. PMID: 15532304

Sensitive Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Panel of Blood Tests	95%	35%	Any of: abnormal CBC, Albumin < 3.5, abnormal LFTs, LDH > 500 in patients with unexplained involuntary weight loss. The conclusions is that a panel of blood tests will discover virtually all cancers in these patients. Study: Am J Med. 2003 Jun 1;114(8):631-7 PMID: 12798450