Weihmiller et al reported decision tree analysis for the diagnosis of intussusception in a pediatric patient. They showed 2 simple trees for predicting risk. The authors are from Children's Hospital Boston.
Patient selection: possible intussusception
Parameters:
(1) age in months
(2) sex
(3) lethargy
(4) diarrhea
(5) abdominal X-ray (positive if small bowel obstruction, target sign or crescent sign; possibly positive if abnormal gas pattern, scattered air-fluid levels, dilated intestinal loops)
(6) bilious vomiting
Age in Months
Sex
Lethargy
Diarrhea
Risk
<= 5 months
NA
NA
NA
0%
> 5 months
female
absent
NA
4.6%
> 5 months
female
present
NA
12.5%
> 5 months
male
NA
absent
23.2%
> 5 months
male
NA
present
8.9%
Abdominal X-ray
Age
Bilious Vomiting
Diarrhea
Risk
positive or possibly positive
NA
NA
NA
33.3%
negative
<= 5 months
NA
NA
0%
negative
> 5 months
present
NA
10%
negative
> 5 months
absent
absent
4.8%
negative
> 5 months
absent
present
1.9%
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