Computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis of head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are common imaging methods to detect cervical lymph node metastasis of head and neck cancer. We aimed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of CT and MRI in detecting cervical lymph node metastasis, and to establish unified diagnostic criteria via systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic literature search in five databases until January 2014 was carried out. All retrieved studies were reviewed and eligible studies were qualitatively summarized. Besides pooling the sensitivity (SEN) and specificity (SPE) data of CT and MRI, summary receiver operating characteristic curves were generated. A total of 63 studies including 3,029 participants were involved. The pooled results of meta-analysis showed that CT had a higher SEN (0.77

SUBMITTER: Sun J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4467645 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature