Studies that evaluated the accuracy of contrast enhanced multi-detector computed tomography (index test) against surgery or clinical outcome (reference standard) for the diagnosis of primary AMI in consecutive patients with clinically suspected AMI or an acute or subacute abdomen of unknown origin were eligible for inclusion. Studies had to report sufficient data to construct a 2x2 table of test performance and include at least 10 patients with AMI and 10 patients without AMI.
Prevalence of AMI ranged from 5.7% to 59.6% in the included studies. Mean age, where reported, ranged from 60 to 76 years. The proportion of men ranged from 34% to 59%. In most studies scans were interpreted by the duty radiologist. The number of multi-detector rows was four in most studies; one used 16 or 40 and one used 16 rows. Some studies administered water as the oral contrast agent. Intravenous contrast agents were omnipaque 300, iomeron or non-ionic contrast agent at various dosages.
Two reviewers independently selected studies for inclusion. Disagreements were resolved through discussion.