Summary of the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of cytology, PCR–ASO, and ARMS in relation to malignancy
| Diagnostic test result | Sensitivity | Specificity | PPV | NPV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Adjusted ARMS results based on quantities of K-ras mutant sequence in confirmed non-malignant samples. | ||||
| ARMS, amplification refractory mutation system; ASO, allele specific oligonucleotide; NPV, negative predictive value; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PPV, positive predictive value. | ||||
| Cytology (positive and suspicious) | 49% | 91% | 94% | 35% |
| Cytology (positive) | 36% | 97% | 98% | 39% |
| PCR–ASO | 42% | 88% | 91% | 34% |
| ARMS | 49% | 93% | 96% | 38% |
| ARMS (adjusted*) | 43% | 100% | 100% | 37% |
| Cytology (positive) + ARMS | 60% | 92% | 96% | 44% |
| Cytology (positive and suspicious) + ARMS | 71% | 84% | 93% | 53% |