title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy for salivary gland lesions.
abstract: Core needle biopsy (CNB) of salivary gland lesions is a relatively new technique that may offer benefits for diagnosis of the lesions. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies published between January 1, 1985, and March 15, 2011. Summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity were obtained by using a summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curve. Study quality was assessed by using the QUADAS survey. We identified 5 studies (277 cases) for inclusion. The area under the SROC for CNB was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.00). Based on histologically verified cases, the sensitivity of CNB is 0.92 (95% CI, 0.77-0.98) and the specificity is 1.00 (95% CI, 0.76-1.00). We conclude that CNB has high accuracy and a low (1.2%) inadequacy rate. CNB is more accurate than fine-needle aspiration, at least in some settings, but the best selection of which test to use for an individual patient and setting remains to be defined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Utah, 15 N Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA..
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Lester J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Layfield
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012372:ROC Curve; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity