Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging criteria for the early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in patients with suspected disease.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

12 electronic databases, citation searches, and reference lists of included studies. Review methods Studies on accuracy of diagnosis that compared magnetic resonance imaging, or diagnostic criteria incorporating such imaging, to a reference standard for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Results

29 studies (18 cohort studies, 11 other designs) were included. On average, studies of other designs (mainly diagnostic case-control studies) produced higher estimated diagnostic odds ratios than did cohort studies. Among 15 studies of higher methodological quality (cohort de

SUBMITTER: Whiting P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1479850 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature