Table 2.
The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of the decision-tree analysis to distinguish five types of pleural effusion
| Target | Sensitivity (%) (95% CI) | Specificity (%) (95% CI) | PPV (95% CI) | NPV (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPE | 100.0 (89.6–100.0) | 98.7 (93.2–100.0) | 97.1 (85.1–99.6) | 100.0 (95.3–100.0) |
| MPE | 80.0 (60.9–91.1) | 87.4 (78.8–92.8) | 64.5 (47.0–78.9) | 93.8 (86.4–97.3) |
| CPPE | 89.5 (68.6–97.1) | 98.9 (94.2–99.8) | 94.4 (74.2–99.0) | 97.9 (92.6–99.4) |
| UPPE | 66.7 (47.8–81.4) | 96.5 (90.1–98.8) | 85.7 (65.4–95.0) | 90.1 (82.3–94.7) |
| PE caused by CTDs | 87.5 (52.9–97.8) | 99.0 (94.8–99.8) | 87.5 (52.9–97.8) | 99.0 (94.8–99.8) |
TPE tuberculous pleural effusion, MPE malignant pleural effusion, CPPE complicated parapneumonic effusion, UPPE uncomplicated parapneumonic effusion, CTDs connective tissue diseases, CI confidence interval, PPV positive predictive value, NPV negative predictive value