title: Detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in serum or plasma for nasopharyngeal cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown that the plasma or serum cell-free Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA level might be a tumor marker for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the detection of EBV DNA in plasma or serum for NPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles related to the diagnosis of NPC by the detection of EBV DNA in plasma or serum were retrieved from different databases. Sensitivity, specificity, summary receiver operator curves, and likelihood ratios were pooled to assess the diagnostic value of individual diagnostic tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 89.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87.0%-90.9%) and 85.0% (95% CI, 83.0%-86.9%). The subgroup analysis regarding sample type found that the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 91.4% (95% CI, 89.0%-93.4%) and 93.2% (95% CI, 91.2%-95.0%) for the plasma group and 84.4% (95% CI, 79.9%-88.3%) and 76.0% (95% CI, 72.1%-79.6%) for the serum group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The detection of EBV DNA for the diagnosis of NPC has good sensitivity and specificity and might be helpful for the screening of NPC.
authors.affiliation: West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhijia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lishi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D010949:Plasma / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral