title: Meta-DiSc: a software for meta-analysis of test accuracy data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of test accuracy studies are increasingly being recognised as central in guiding clinical practice. However, there is currently no dedicated and comprehensive software for meta-analysis of diagnostic data. In this article, we present Meta-DiSc, a Windows-based, user-friendly, freely available (for academic use) software that we have developed, piloted, and validated to perform diagnostic meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Meta-DiSc a) allows exploration of heterogeneity, with a variety of statistics including chi-square, I-squared and Spearman correlation tests, b) implements meta-regression techniques to explore the relationships between study characteristics and accuracy estimates, c) performs statistical pooling of sensitivities, specificities, likelihood ratios and diagnostic odds ratios using fixed and random effects models, both overall and in subgroups and d) produces high quality figures, including forest plots and summary receiver operating characteristic curves that can be exported for use in manuscripts for publication. All computational algorithms have been validated through comparison with different statistical tools and published meta-analyses. Meta-DiSc has a Graphical User Interface with roll-down menus, dialog boxes, and online help facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meta-DiSc is a comprehensive and dedicated test accuracy meta-analysis software. It has already been used and cited in several meta-analyses published in high-ranking journals. The software is publicly available at http://www.hrc.es/investigacion/metadisc_en.htm.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Biostatistics Unit, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Spain. javier.zamora@hrc.es
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Abraira
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muriel
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Arri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coomarasamy
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000592:standards*; D003954:Diagnostic Services / Q000592:standards*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging