The clinical usefulness of an algorithm for the interpretation of biochemical profiles with hypercalcemia. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1983. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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The clinical usefulness of an algorithm for the interpretation of biochemical profiles with hypercalcemia.

Am J Clin Pathol. 1982 Oct;78(4):479-84. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/83045517
Lum G; Deshotels SJ Jr

Abstract: A logical, systematic approach to the interpretation of diagnostic biochemical profiles in patients with hypercalcemia has been attempted through the use of algorithms (decision trees). A tentative algorithm (ALG-I) and an expanded and modified version (ALG-II) were compared for effectiveness in tests of 80 patients with hypercalcemia at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. The overwhelming majority (69%) of these patients had malignant disease. Comparative performance indicated that the modified algorithm (ALG-II) assigned the correct diagnostic categories in 66% of cases, compared with 53% for ALG-I, but the clinical performance of ALG-I improved (agreement rate of 60%) when it was assumed that patients with malignancy could have coexisting hyperparathyroidism or pseudohyperparathyroidism. The clinical trial indicated that both algorithms were fairly comparable and that their primary use would be as teaching aids for medical students and residents to suggest various diagnostic possibilities for hypercalcemia in patients.
Keywords: Adolescence Adult Aged Calcium/BLOOD Cervix Neoplasms/COMPLICATIONS Child Female Human Hypercalcemia/*DIAGNOSIS/ETIOLOGY Hyperparathyroidism/COMPLICATIONS Lung Neoplasms/COMPLICATIONS Male *Mathematics Middle Age Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/COMPLICATIONS JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDadolescenceadultagedcalcium/bloodcervixneoplasms/complicationschildfemalehumanhypercalcemia/KWDdiagnosis/etiologyhyperparathyroidism/complicationslungneoplasms/complicationsmaleKWDmathematicsmiddleagetuberculosis,pulmonary/complicationsjournalarticle
830228
M8320016

Copyright © 1983 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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