title: Re: ''laparoscopic vs open approach to resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with known cirrhosis: systematic review and meta-analysis''.
abstract: Twaij and colleagues have carried out a meta-analysis of cohort studies to review the currently available literature comparing laparoscopic to open resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with known liver cirrhosis. We congratulate and applaud their important work, but several important issues should be noted.
authors.affiliation: Zhan-Zhan Li, Li-Zhang Chen, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhan-Zhan
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Zhan-Zhan Li, Li-Zhang Chen, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Li-Zhang
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Heterogeneity; Meta-analysis; Sensitivity analysis; Standardized mean difference; Weighted mean difference