Tests for investigating fever of unknown origin (FUO)*
| Tests | Effectiveness | Level of evidence | Number and quality of studies | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Sens = sensitivity; spec = specificity. | ||||
| Abdominal computed tomography | Sens 71%; Spec 71% | Fair | 1 fair | Recommended |
| Nuclear imaging | Sens 40–82%; Spec 69–94% | Fair | 6 fair; 4 poor | Technetium and indium 111-labeled white blood cell scans recommended; indium 111 IgG and gallium 67 scans not recommended |
| Duke criteria | Spec 99% | Fair | 1 fair | Recommended |
| Liver biopsy | Diagnostic yield 14–17% | Fair | 2 fair | Recommended |
| Temporal artery biopsy | Recommended for diagnosing temporal arteritis in older patients with FUO | |||
| Leg Doppler imaging | Recommended for diagnosing deep venous thrombosis, a cause in 2–6% of patients with FUO | |||