Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Artif Intell Med Imaging. Sep 28, 2024; 5(1): 97356
Published online Sep 28, 2024. doi: 10.35711/aimi.v5.i1.97356
Criteria for assessing the diagnostic significance of modern methods of imaging gastrointestinal diseases in practical gastroenterology
Sergey M Kotelevets
Sergey M Kotelevets, Department of Therapy, Medical Institute, North Caucasus State Academy, Cherkessk 369000, Russia
Author contributions: Kotelevets SM contributed to this paper by designing the overall concept, outlining the manuscript, drafting its content, writing and editing, creating illustrations, reviewing relevant literature, and approving the final version for publication.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author, Sergey M Kotelevets, has nothing to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Sergey M Kotelevets, MD, Professor, Department of Therapy, Medical Institute, North Caucasus State Academy, Stavropolskaya Street 36, Cherkessk 369000, Russia. smkotelevets@mail.ru
Received: May 28, 2024
Revised: August 29, 2024
Accepted: September 10, 2024
Published online: September 28, 2024
Processing time: 120 Days and 17.9 Hours
Abstract

Imaging methods are frequently used to diagnose gastrointestinal diseases and play a crucial role in verifying clinical diagnoses among all diagnostic algorithms. However, these methods have limitations, challenges, benefits, and advantages. Addressing these limitations requires the application of objective criteria to assess the effectiveness of each diagnostic method. The diagnostic process is dynamic and requires a consistent algorithm, progressing from clinical subjective data, such as patient history (anamnesis), and objective findings to diagnostics ex juvantibus. Caution must be exercised when interpreting diagnostic results, and there is an urgent need for better diagnostic tests. In the absence of such tests, preliminary criteria and a diagnosis ex juvantibus must be relied upon. Diagnostic imaging methods are critical stages in the diagnostic workflow, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy serving as the primary criteria for evaluating clinical, laboratory, and instrumental symptoms. A comprehensive evaluation of all available diagnostic data guarantees an accurate diagnosis. The “gold standard” for diagnosis is typically established through either the results of a pathological autopsy or a lifetime diagnosis resulting from a thorough examination using all diagnostic methods.

Keywords: Imaging methods; Gastrointestinal diseases; Sensitivity; Specificity; Accuracy of the method

Core Tip: The diagnostic process is a complex journey that every physician undertakes with each patient. Successfully diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases requires mastery of all the methods within the diagnostic algorithm. Modern imaging methods provide physicians with significant diagnostic support. But how should the results of these imaging methods be evaluated? This is done using key criteria such as sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Only a comprehensive assessment of various diagnostic methods, taking into account these criteria, will ensure the correct diagnosis of the disease.