title: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography as a diagnostic tool in patients with cervical nodal metastases of unknown primary site: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)FDG PET-CT) for the detection of primary sites in patients with cervical nodal metastases of unknown origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were systematically searched for relevant PET-CT original articles in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. We calculated the primary tumor detection rate, sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios for (18)FDG PET-CT. We also constructed the hierarchic summary receiver operating characteristic curve for (18)FDG PET-CT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This present study analyzed a total of 7 selected studies (246 patients). The primary tumor detection rate, sensitivity and specificity of PET-CT were 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31-0.58), 0.97 (95% CI = 0.63-0.99), and 0.68 (95% CI = 0.49-0.83). Area under the curve was 0.83 (95% CI = 0.80-0.86).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (18)FDG PET-CT has high sensitivity and low specificity for the detection of primary sites in patients with cervical nodal metastases of unknown origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Gongti Nanlu No.8, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, PR China.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ningyu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000175:diagnosis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
keywords: Cervical carcinoma of unknown origin; Meta-analysis; PET-CT; Primary site