Diagnostic performance with 95% CI of US-guided FNA SCLN results compared with lung cancer diagnosis made by all other further investigations in the first row (Reference Tests) and compared with the top 3 standard diagnostic reference tests (core LN biopsy, bronchial washings and lung biopsy)
| US-guided FNA vs | Sensitivity % (95% CI) | Specificity % (95% CI) | PPV % (95% CI) | NPV % (95% CI) | PLR | NLR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All further tests | 76.9 (63.2 to 87.5) | 100 (47.9 to 100) | 100 (91.1 to 100) | 29.4 (10.4 to 55.9) | NA | 0.23 (0.2 to 0.4) |
| Core LN biopsy | 81.2 (59.7 to 94.7) | 100 (16.6 to 100) | 100 (81.3 to 100) | 20 (3.3 to 71.2) | NA | 0.18 (0.1 to 0.5) |
| Bronchial washings | 69.2 (38.6 to 90.7) | 100 (30.5 to 100) | 100 (66.2 to 100) | 42.9 (10.4 to 81.3) | NA | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.7) |
| Lung biopsy | 57.1 (18.8 to 89.6) | 100 (16.6 to 100) | 100 (40.2 to 100) | 25 (4.1 to 79.7) | NA | 0.4 (0.2 to 1.0) |
FNA, fine-needle aspiration; NA, not applicable; NLR, negative likelihood ratio; NPV, negative predictive value; PLR, positive likelihood ratio; PPV, positive predictive value; SCLN, supraclavicular and cervical lymphadenopathy; US, ultrasound.