RECEIVER OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC CURVE ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS RADIOGRAPHIC PROTOCOLS WHEN SCREENING DOGS FOR PULMONARY METASTASES

Five radiographic protocols for detecting pulmonary metastases in dogs were compared by analyzing receiver operating characteristic curves f or the protocols. Protocols compared were a right lateral view only, a left lateral view only, right lateral and dorsoventral views, both la teral views, and all 3 views. Three radiologists used each of the prot ocols to evaluate 99 sets of thoracic radiographs. Fifty-two sets of r adiographs were from dogs confirmed histologically to have pulmonary m etastases and 47 were from dogs proven at necropsy to be free of pulmo nary metastases. Results of the 5 protocols were not statistically dif ferent. We concluded that a third view is not necessary when routinely screening dogs with cancer for pulmonary metastases and that the stan dard 2-view thoracic examination should be adequate. However, in indiv idual cases, a third view may be the determining factor in establishin g a radiographic diagnosis and should be obtained if any suspicious ar eas are seen.