The value of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound for the diagnosis of metastatic cervical lymph nodes of papillary thyroid carcinoma: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

• Published in: Journal of clinical ultrasound Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 60 - 69
• Main Authors: Li, Qiao‐Li, Ma, Ting, Wang, Zi‐Jing, Huang, Lei, Liu, Wen, Chen, Ming, Sang, Tian, Ren, Xue‐Gang, Tong, Jin, Cao, Chun‐Li, Dong, Jian, Li, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Diagnosis; Diagnostic systems; Heterogeneity; Humans; Lymph nodes; Lymph Nodes - diagnostic imaging; lymphatic metastasis; Lymphatic Metastasis - diagnostic imaging; Lymphatic system; Meta-analysis; Metastases; Papillary thyroid carcinoma; papillary thyroid neoplasm; Regression analysis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Thyroid; Thyroid cancer; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary - diagnostic imaging; Thyroid Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound; meta-analysis; papillary thyroid neoplasm; lymph nodes; lymphatic metastasis
• ISSN: 0091-2751; 1097-0096; 1097-0096
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23073

To investigate the diagnostic efficiency of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the diagnosis of cervical lymph nodes metastasis (CLNM) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), eight available datasets of seven qualified articles before March 31, 2021 were included after a comprehensive search. Meta‐analysis results showed that CEUS demonstrated acceptable diagnostic performance in the diagnosis of CLNM of PTC. Furthermore, meta‐regression analysis was conducted to identify the reasons for heterogeneity and the results indicated that the criteria of CEUS for the diagnosis of CLNM in PTC need to be unified. Forest plot of CEUS for diagnosing metastatic cervical lymph nodes of PTC. CEUS, contrast‐enhanced ultrasound; PTC, papillary thyroid carcinoma