Reviewer's report
Title:Diagnosis of rectal cancer by Tissue Resonance Interaction Method
Version: 2Date:12 January 2010
Reviewer: Cosimo De Nunzio
Reviewer's report:
The authors evaluated the possibility to detect rectal cancer with the TRIMprob.
They have partially replied to previous comments. However major concerns still
remain. The authors still considered the hot point of their publication the use of a
70 U as a cut off point to reduce false negative. However the study design does
not allow this conclusion. TRIMprob used a visual real time cut-off (two bars are
about 50 UI) to define the presence of cancer. The authors should considered
their experience only as a first step to plan a new study where the TRIMprob will
be performed using a different visual cut-off (3 o more bars). You can not perform
the test using a two bars visual scale and than analyse the data using a different
cut-off.
The possible presence of bladder and prostate cancer was excluded using a TC
scan. However TC scan is not considered a test to evaluate the possible
presence of prostate cancer (PSA, DRE are the standard). This point should be
considered and discussed as a possible limitation to the study results.
AUC is 0.96 and accuracy is 90.0 a type error?.
Data obtained form the trimprob in this study could not be compared to data
obtained for faecal occult blood test. The study does not compare TRIMprob with
other non-invasive tests (this point should be clarified in the discussion section).
Data on accuracy of colonscopy for diagnosis of colon cancer should be included
or referred to the available literature.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
'I declare that I have no competing interests'
Reviewer's report
Title:Diagnosis of rectal cancer by Tissue Resonance Interaction Method
Version: 2Date:12 January 2010
Reviewer: Cosimo De Nunzio
Reviewer's report:
The authors evaluated the possibility to detect rectal cancer with the TRIMprob.
They have partially replied to previous comments. However major concerns still
remain. The authors still considered the hot point of their publication the use of a
70 U as a cut off point to reduce false negative. However the study design does
not allow this conclusion. TRIMprob used a visual real time cut-off (two bars are
about 50 UI) to define the presence of cancer. The authors should considered
their experience only as a first step to plan a new study where the TRIMprob will
be performed using a different visual cut-off (3 o more bars). You can not perform
the test using a two bars visual scale and than analyse the data using a different
cut-off.
The possible presence of bladder and prostate cancer was excluded using a TC
scan. However TC scan is not considered a test to evaluate the possible
presence of prostate cancer (PSA, DRE are the standard). This point should be
considered and discussed as a possible limitation to the study results.
AUC is 0.96 and accuracy is 90.0 a type error?.
Data obtained form the trimprob in this study could not be compared to data
obtained for faecal occult blood test. The study does not compare TRIMprob with
other non-invasive tests (this point should be clarified in the discussion section).
Data on accuracy of colonscopy for diagnosis of colon cancer should be included
or referred to the available literature.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
'I declare that I have no competing interests'
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Diagnosis of rectal cancer by Tissue Resonance Interaction Method
Version: 2Date:12 January 2010
Reviewer: Cosimo De Nunzio
Reviewer's report:
The authors evaluated the possibility to detect rectal cancer with the TRIMprob.
They have partially replied to previous comments. However major concerns still
remain. The authors still considered the hot point of their publication the use of a
70 U as a cut off point to reduce false negative. However the study design does
not allow this conclusion. TRIMprob used a visual real time cut-off (two bars are
about 50 UI) to define the presence of cancer. The authors should considered
their experience only as a first step to plan a new study where the TRIMprob will
be performed using a different visual cut-off (3 o more bars). You can not perform
the test using a two bars visual scale and than analyse the data using a different
cut-off.
The possible presence of bladder and prostate cancer was excluded using a TC
scan. However TC scan is not considered a test to evaluate the possible
presence of prostate cancer (PSA, DRE are the standard). This point should be
considered and discussed as a possible limitation to the study results.
AUC is 0.96 and accuracy is 90.0 a type error?.
Data obtained form the trimprob in this study could not be compared to data
obtained for faecal occult blood test. The study does not compare TRIMprob with
other non-invasive tests (this point should be clarified in the discussion section).
Data on accuracy of colonscopy for diagnosis of colon cancer should be included
or referred to the available literature.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
'I declare that I have no competing interests'
assistant