SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2024
Diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin in adult non-neutropenic cancer patients with suspected infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparison of the Diagnostic Accuracies of Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients with Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Pooled it
- Procalcitonin-Guided Management and Duration of Antibiotic Therapy in Critically Ill Cancer Patients With Sepsis (Pro-Can Study): A Randomized Controlled Trial.Critical care explorations · 2024Trial
- Inflammatory Biomarkers Following Orthopedic Surgery: Current Evidence, Clinical Applications, and Future Perspectives-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Marked Non-Infectious Elevation of Procalcitonin in a Hemodialysis Patient with Bladder Cancer: A Case Report.Infection and drug resistance · 2026Article
- Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytokine and lymphocyte profiles for lower respiratory tract infections in patients with lymphoma.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Diagnostic Accuracy of Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis of Sepsis in Cancer Patients Hospitalized for Infection.Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2025Observational
- [Antibiotic stewardship-an update : Ongoing development of an initiative].Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin · 2025Review
- Procalcitonin levels in septic and nonseptic subjects with AKI and ESKD prior to and during continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT).Critical care (London, England) · 2025Article
- Clinical features, procalcitonin concentration, and bacterial infection in febrile hospitalized cancer patients: a descriptive study and association analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Article
- Development of a Predictive Nomogram for Sepsis in Patients with Urolithiasis-Related Obstructive Pyelonephritis.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundProcalcitonin (PCT) has garnered attention as a potential diagnostic biomarker for infection in cancer patients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin (PCT) and to compare it with C-reactive protein (CRP) in adult non-neutropenic cancer patients with suspected infection.
methodsA systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify all relevant diagnostic accuracy studies. Original articles reporting the diagnostic accuracy of PCT for infection detection in adult patients with solid or hematological malignancies were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, area under the hierarchical summary receiver operator characteristic (HSROC) curve, and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.
resultsSeven studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of PCT were 60% (95% CI [45-74%]) and 78% (95% CI [69-86%]). The diagnostic odds ratio was estimated at 5.47 (95% CI [2.86-10.46]). Three studies compared the diagnostic accuracies of PCT and CRP. The pooled sensitivity and specificity values for PCT were 57% (95% CI [26-83%]) and 75% (95% CI [68-82%]), and those for CRP were 67% (95% CI [35-88%]) and 73% (95% CI [69-77%]). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of PCT and CRP did not differ significantly (p = 0.61 and p = 0.63). The diagnostic accuracy of PCT was similar to that of CRP as measured by the area under the HSROC curve (0.73, CI = 0.61-0.91 vs. 0.74, CI = 0.61-0.95, p = 0.93).
conclusionWhile elevated PCT levels can be indicative of potential infection, they should not be solely relied upon to exclude infection. We recommend not using the PCT test in isolation; Instead, it should be carefully interpreted in the context of clinical findings.
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