Table 3.

Diagnostic performance of physical examination and lung ultrasound for detection of pleural effusion

	Sensitivity (95% CI)	Specificity (95% CI)	Positive likelihood ratio (95% CI)	Negative likelihood ratio (95% CI)	Accuracy (95% CI)
Overall physical examination	44.0% (30.0–58.8%)	88.9% (65.3–98.6%)	3.96 (1.03–15.18)	0.63 (0.47–0.85)	55.9% (44.3–67.9%)
Individual physical examination findings
Decreased tactile fremitus	68.0% (53.3–80.5%)	83.3% (58.6–96.2%)	4.08 (1.43–11.7)	0.38 (0.24–0.60)	72.1% (59–9-82.3%)
Dullness to percussion	94.0% (83.5–98.8%)	16.7% (3.6–41.4%)	1.13 (0.91–1.40)	0.36 (0.08–1.62)	73.5% (61.4–83.5%)
Asymmetric chest wall expansion	18% (8.6–31.4%)	94.4% (72.7–99.9%)	3.24 (0.44–23.81)	0.87 (0.73–1.03)	38.2% (26.7–50.8%)
Egophony	38.8% (25.2–53.8%)	88.9 (65.3–98.6%)	3.49 (0.90–13.50)	0.69 (0.52–0.91)	52.2% (39.7–64.6%)
Bedside ultrasound examination
Seated (posterior exam)	92% (80.8–97.8%)	94.4% (72.7–99.9%)	16.6 (2.5–111.4)	0.08 (0.03–0.22)	92.7% (83.7–97.6%)
Supine (coronal views)	98% (89.4–100%)	94.4 (72.7–99.9%)	17.6 (2.6–118.6)	0.02 (0.00–0.15)	97.1% (89.8–99.6%)

Diagnostic parameters and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) of physical examination and sonographic findings for pleural effusion