This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (27)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Diagnosis  • Pediatric Ophthalmology  • Retinal/ Chorioretinal Disorders  • Ocular Imaging  • Alert me on articles by topic

Sensitivity and Specificity

Daniel B. Roth, MD; Diany Morales, MD; William J. Feuer, MD; Ditte Hess, CRA; Rose Anne Johnson, RN; John T. Flynn, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119:268-272.

ABSTRACT
Objectives  To compare the method of photographic screening using the RetCam 120 to the standard method of screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by ophthalmologic examination.

Methods  A total of 100 RetCam 120 photoscreening examinations of the retina were performed on 32 premature infants. These were stored in a separate file from which all identifying information was removed. At this same examination, a detailed ophthalmological evaluation, employing the indirect ophthalmoscope with scleral depression, was performed by an experienced examiner. Masked examiners performed an evaluation of the fundus photographs to identify presence or absence of ROP, the location and extent of the disease, and the presence or absence of plus disease. These data were then compared with the results of the ophthalmological examination to determine the specificity, sensitivity, and the positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) of the method.

Results  Retinopathy of prematurity was detected in 68 of 100 subjects by ophthalmologic examinations and in 58 of 100 subjects' photoscreening examinations. No ROP was detected in 32 of 100 subjects. The sensitivity of the method was 56 (82.4%) of 68 and the specificity was 30 (93.8%) of 32. The PPV was 96.6%; NPV, 76.9%.

Conclusions  The sensitivity of the method was low. The ROP that was missed was peripheral stage 1 or stage 2 disease in peripheral zone 2 or zone 3. This was largely due to the technical limitations of the speculum-camera interface preventing a better view of the periphery. The ROP cases that were missed by the photographic examination regressed spontaneously on follow-up. No disease more posterior to peripheral zone 2 was overlooked. These results detail the accuracy of the method employing the technique of photoscreening as a potential substitute for detailed ophthalmological examination. At present there are clear technical limitations to such a substitution. The study is part of an ongoing project to determine the feasibility of employing neonatal nurses trained to take digitized images of the premature infant's retina and telemeter the results to be read by an experienced ophthalmologist remote from the site.

From the Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla (Drs Roth, Morales, and Feuer, and Mss Hess and Johnson); and the Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY (Dr Flynn).

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Progression to Severe Retinopathy Predicted by Retinal Vessel Diameter Between 31 and 34 Weeks of Postconception Age
Rabinowitz et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:1495-1500.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Accuracy of ROPtool vs Individual Examiners in Assessing Retinal Vascular Tortuosity
Wallace et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:1523-1530.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Telemedical Retinopathy of Prematurity Diagnosis: Accuracy, Reliability, and Image Quality
Chiang et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:1531-1538.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interexpert Agreement of Plus Disease Diagnosis in Retinopathy of Prematurity
Chiang et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:875-880.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Remote image based retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis: a receiver operating characteristic analysis of accuracy
Chiang et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2006;90:1292-1296.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Accuracy and reliability of remote retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis.
Chiang et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2006;124:322-327.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy and Angiography With a Wide-Field Contact Lens System
Staurenghi et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:244-252.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Semiautomated computer analysis of vessel growth in preterm infants without and with ROP
Swanson et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2003;87:1474-1477.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity Using Wide-Field Digital Retinal Imaging: Sensitivity and Specificity
Fielder et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:1234-1234.
FULL TEXT