A meta-analysis of the accuracy of prostate cancer studies which use magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to do a meta-analysis of the existing literature to assess the accuracy of prostate cancer studies which use magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as a diagnostic tool.


METHODS
Prospectively, independent, blind studies were selected from the Cochrane library, Pubmed, and other network databases. The criteria for inclusion and exclusion in this study referenced the criteria of diagnostic research published by the Cochrane center. The statistical analysis was adopted by using Meta-Test version 6.0. Using the homogeneity test, a statistical effect model was chosen to calculate different pooled weighted values of sensitivity, specificity, and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves method was used to assess the results.


RESULTS
We chose two cut-off values (0.75 and 0.86) as the diagnostic criteria for discriminating between benign and malignant. In the first diagnostic criterion, the pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity, and corresponding 95% CI (expressed as area under curve [AUC]) were 0.82 (0.73, 0.89), 0.68 (0.58, 0.76), and 83.4% (74.97, 91.83). In the second criterion, the pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity, and corresponding 95% CI were 0.64 (0.55, 0.72), 0.86 (0.79, 0.91) and 82.7% (68.73, 96.68).


CONCLUSIONS
As a new method in the diagnostic of prostate cancer, MRS has a better applied value compared to other common modalities. Ultimately, large scale RCT (randomized controlled trial) randomized controlled trial studies are necessary to assess its clinical value.
The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xioan Jiao Tong University, Imaging Center, Xi'an, Shannxi Province, China. yt.wangpeng813@163.com
Peng
P
Wang
You-min
YM
Guo
Min
M
Liu
Yong-qian
YQ
Qiang
Xiao-juan
XJ
Guo
Yi-li
YL
Zhang
Xiao-Yi
XY
Duan
Qiu-Juan
QJ
Zhang
Weifeng
W
Liang
D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity