The Diagnostic Value of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Differentiating Metastatic Lymph Nodes of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Accurate lymph node staging is crucial for proper treatment planning for metastasis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of DWI for differentiating metastatic cervical lymph nodes from benign cervical lymph nodes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to identify optimal cutoff values for ADC. A computerized literature search was performed to identify relevant original articles in Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE. Studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of DWI for differentiating metastatic cervical lymph nodes from benign cervical lymph nodes were selected. Diagnostic meta-analysis was conducted with a bivariate random-effects model, and a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve was obtained. Meta-regression was also performed. Nine studies with 337 patients were included. In all studies, ADC values derived from metastatic lymph nodes were significantly lower than ADC values derived from benign lymph nodes. The median ADC cutoff value was 0.965 × 10-3 mm2/s. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for the diagnostic performance of DWI in differentiating metastatic lymph nodes from benign lymph nodes were 90% (95% CI, 84%-...Continue Reading
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
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