title: The diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography for malignant cervical lymph nodes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography for malignant cervical lymph nodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Ovid-MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for published studies regarding the use of shear wave elastography for diagnosing malignant cervical lymph nodes. The diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography was assessed using bivariate modelling and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic modelling. Meta-regression analysis and subgroup analysis according to acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) and Supersonic shear imaging (SSI) were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight eligible studies which included a total sample size of 481 patients with 647 cervical lymph nodes, were included. Shear wave elastography showed a summary sensitivity of 81 % (95 % CI: 72-88 %) and specificity of 85 % (95 % CI: 70-93 %). The results of meta-regression analysis revealed that the prevalence of malignant lymph nodes was a significant factor affecting study heterogeneity (p < .01). According to the subgroup analysis, the summary estimates of the sensitivity and specificity did not differ between ARFI and SSI (p = .93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shear wave elastography is an acceptable imaging modality for diagnosing malignant cervical lymph nodes. We believe that both ARFI and SSI may have a complementary role for diagnosing malignant cervical lymph nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Shear wave elastography is acceptable modality for diagnosing malignant cervical lymph nodes. • Shear wave elastography demonstrated summary sensitivity of 81 % and specificity of 85 %. • ARFI and SSI have complementary roles for diagnosing malignant cervical lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 86 Asanbyeongwon-Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea.|Department of Radiology, Namwon Medical Center, 365, Chungjeong-Ro, Namwon-Si, Jeollabuk-Do, 590-702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chong Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 86 Asanbyeongwon-Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea. jehee23@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Young Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 86 Asanbyeongwon-Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 86 Asanbyeongwon-Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009333:Neck; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging; Malignant cervical lymph nodes; Shear wave elastography; Supersonic shear imaging; Ultrasound