Scintigraphic diagnosis of cirrhosis: a receiver operator characteristic analysis of the common interpretative criteria.

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Abstract
Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) techniques were used to determine relative importance of heterogeneity, bone marrow uptake, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and focal lesions in the scintigraphic diagnosis of cirrhosis, and to determine whether each of the criteria should be used as an identifier (high sensitivity) or as a discriminator (high specificty). Heterogeneity, splenomegaly, and bone marrow uptake were good identifiers of hepatic disease in humans. Heterogeneity was a poor discriminator for cirrhosis, splenomegaly showed some value as a discriminator, and bone marrow uptake was a reliable discriminator for alcoholic liver disease. The presence of focal lesions was a good disciminator for metastatic disease, and was not specific for cirrhosis. Hepatomegaly also was not specific for cirrhosis. This method of analysis provides a relatively simple method for assembling a hierarchical guide to diagnostic criteria for the interpreting physician.

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