Table 2.

Cumulative positive predictive values (PPVs) across all cancer sitesa

SexAge group, years
≥40≥50≥60≥70≥80≥9040–4950–5960–6970–7980–89≥9040–5960–79≥80
Lowest LRs from SRFemale1.62.23.03.94.44.00.20.81.93.54.64.00.72.54.4
Combined5.27.210.012.713.513.90.42.27.212.213.513.91.29.213.5
Male5.47.510.513.715.016.10.42.27.513.014.916.11.39.615.0
Highest LRs from SRFemale3.65.06.78.79.98.40.51.74.27.810.58.41.35.79.9
Combined7.310.114.018.119.619.10.73.29.817.019.919.11.812.619.6
Male7.310.114.218.821.322.30.63.19.817.521.122.31.812.821.3
  • a Shading: PPV 1–1.9% (yellow) and 2–2.9% (amber): NICE suggests GPs consider primary care testing.≥3% (red): NICE recommends referral for specialist review or definitive investigation if the investigation is available to the GP. The combined analysis includes: colorectal, gastro-oesophageal, lung, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and renal tract cancer. Prostate cancer is removed from the female analysis, and ovarian from the male. No shading: <1%, no testing needed. LR = likelihood ratio. NICE = National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. SR = systematic review.