The results of the review were as follows:
The sensitivity and specificity values were:
49% sensitivity and 90% specificity (range: 80% - 90%) for the empirical strategy;
44% sensitivity (range: 44% - 70%) and 99% specificity (range: 95% - 99%) for amplicor assay;
45% sensitivity (range: 20% - 45%) and 99% specificity (range: 95% - 99%) for BAL;
80% sensitivity (range: 60% - 80%) and 60% specificity (range: 50% - 60%) for CT scan; and
80% sensitivity (range: 80% - 93%) and 95% specificity (range: 70% - 95%) for BLA+NNA.
Mortality rates associated with PTB were:
0.01% with BAL;
8% in treated patients with positive results;
0.003% in treated patients with negative results; and
50% in PTB untreated patients.
The average incidence of PTB was:
5.7% in the whole group of patients;
95% among high-risk patients;
3.4% in intermediate-risk patients; and
0.9% in low-risk subjects.