Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Diagnostic cohort studies were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies that evaluated multidetector CT angiographic scanners with at least two detectors were eligible for inclusion. Studies that concentrated on a specific part of a lower extremity were excluded. The arterial tracts investigated included: aorta to ankles, superior mesenteric artery to pedal arteries, celiac artery to toes, diaphragm to feet, celiac artery to 10 cm below trifurcation, L2 vertebra to calf, and xiphoid to feet. In most studies the number of sections was 4, although 2 and 16 sections were also evaluated. The section thickness ranged from 0.7 to 5 mm.
Reference standard test against which the new test was compared
Studies in which the reference standard consisted of digital subtraction angiography were eligible for inclusion. Clinically significant disease was considered to be present if at least one stenosis of 50% or greater of the luminal diameter was present per arterial segment.
Participants included in the review
Studies in which patients were referred because of clinical suspicion of peripheral arterial disease were eligible for inclusion. The mean age of the patients ranged from 53 to 71 years and 55 to 96% were men. Patients were referred for evaluation of claudication (75% overall) or critical ischaemia (25% overall).
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies that provided sufficient information to construct a 2x2 table of test performance were eligible for inclusion. The outcomes reported in the review were the sensitivity and specificity.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion. Any disagreements were resolved through consensus.