Systematic reviews of diagnostic tests in cancer: review of methods and reporting.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To assess the methods and reporting of systematic reviews of diagnostic tests.

Data sources

Systematic searches of Medline, Embase, and five other databases identified reviews of tests used in patients with cancer. Of these, 89 satisfied our inclusion criteria of reporting accuracy of the test compared with a reference test, including an electronic search, and published since 1990.

Review methods

All reviews were assessed for methods and reporting of objectives, search strategy, participants, clinical setting, index and reference tests, study design, study results, graphs, meta-analysis, quality, bias, and procedures in the review. We assessed 25 randomly selected reviews in more detail.

Results

75% (67) of the reviews stated inclusion criteria, 49%

SUBMITTER: Mallett S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1553548 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature