Table 2. Performance of PTPFB, cytologic testing, and the combined PTPFB and cytologic testing for diagnosing malignancy.

		PTPFB	Cytologic testing	P
PTPFB vs. cytologic testing
	Sensitivity	65.2 (15/23) [42.7–83.6]	47.8 (11/23) [26.8–69.4]	0.206
	Specificity	100 (48/48)	100 (48/48)	NA
	Accuracy	88.7 (63/71) [81.4–96.1]	83.1 (59/71) [74.4–91.8]	0.013
	PPV	100 (16/16)	100 (11/11)	NA
	NPV	85.7 (48/56) [77.4–91.3]	80.0 (48/60) [73.0–85.5]	0.206
		PTPFB	PTPFB + cytologic testing	P
PTPFB vs. PTPFB + cytologic testing
	Sensitivity	65.2 (15/23) [42.7–83.6]	78.3 (18/23) [56.3–92.5]	0.083
	Specificity	100 (48/48)	100 (48/48)	NA
	Accuracy	88.7 (63/71) [81.4–96.1]	93.0 (66/71) [87.0–98.9]	0.013
	PPV	100 (16/16)	100 (19/19)	NA
	NPV	85.7 (48/56) [77.4–91.3]	90.6 (48/53) [81.6–95.4]	0.083
		Cytologic testing	PTPFB + cytologic testing	P
Cytologic testing vs. PTPFB + cytologic testing
	Sensitivity	47.8 (11/23) [26.8–69.4]	78.3 (18/23) [56.3–92.5]	0.008
	Specificity	100 (48/48)	100 (48/48)	NA
	Accuracy	83.1 (59/71) [74.4–91.8]	93.0 (66/71) [87.0–98.9]	0.001
	PPV	100 (11/11)	100 (19/19)	NA
	NPV	80.0 (48/60) [73.0–85.5]	90.6 (48/53) [81.6–95.4]	0.008

Data are percentage with numerator/denominator in parentheses and 95% confidence interval in brackets.

PTPFB = percutaneous transthoracic pleural forceps biopsy, NA = not applicable, PPV = positive predictive value, NPV = negative predictive value