Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34327144›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in oncology2021

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of the Accuracy of Various Lymph Node Staging Criteria in Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Zixuan Zhuang, Yang Zhang, Mingtian Wei, Xuyang Yang, Ziqiang Wang

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in oncology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 45 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
45citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

45 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Zixuan ZhuangDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yang ZhangDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Mingtian WeiDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Xuyang YangDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Ziqiang WangDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based lymph node staging remains a significant challenge in the treatment of rectal cancer. Pretreatment evaluation of lymph node metastasis guides the formulation of treatment plans. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI in lymph node staging using various morphological criteria.

methodsA systematic search of the EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane databases was performed. Original articles published between 2000 and January 2021 that used MRI for lymph node staging in rectal cancer were eligible. The included studies were assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A bivariate random-effects model was used to conduct a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.

resultsThirty-seven studies were eligible for this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of preoperative MRI for the lymph node stage were 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-0.77), 0.74 (95% CI, 0.68-0.80), and 7.85 (95% CI, 5.78-10.66), respectively. Criteria for positive mesorectal lymph node metastasis included (A) a short-axis diameter of 5 mm, (B) morphological standard, including an irregular border and mixed-signal intensity within the lymph node, (C) a short-axis diameter of 5 mm with the morphological standard, (D) a short-axis diameter of 8 mm with the morphological standard, and (E) a short-axis diameter of 10 mm with the morphological standard. The pooled sensitivity/specificity for these criteria were 75%/64%, 81%/67%, 74%/79%, 72%/66%, and 62%/91%, respectively. There was no significant difference among the criteria in sensitivity/specificity. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve values of the fitted summary ROC indicated a diagnostic accuracy rate of 0.75-0.81.

conclusionMRI scans have minimal accuracy as a reference index for pretreatment staging of various lymph node staging criteria in rectal cancer. Multiple types of evidence should be used in clinical decision-making.

Indexed as

lymph nodelymph node stagingmagnetic resonance imagingmetastasisnode-by-noderectal cancer

Identifiers

PMID34327144
PMCPMC8315047

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.