Korean J Radiol.  2015 Dec;16(6):1188-1196. 10.3348/kjr.2015.16.6.1188.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Evaluating Diagnostic Test Accuracy: A Practical Review for Clinical Researchers-Part II. Statistical Methods of Meta-Analysis

• Lee J
• Kim KW
• Choi SH
• Huh J
• Park SH

• KMID: 2344272
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2015.16.6.1188

Abstract

Meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies differs from the usual meta-analysis of therapeutic/interventional studies in that, it is required to simultaneously analyze a pair of two outcome measures such as sensitivity and specificity, instead of a single outcome. Since sensitivity and specificity are generally inversely correlated and could be affected by a threshold effect, more sophisticated statistical methods are required for the meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy. Hierarchical models including the bivariate model and the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model are increasingly being accepted as standard methods for meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies. We provide a conceptual review of statistical methods currently used and recommended for meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies. This article could serve as a methodological reference for those who perform systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies.

Keyword

Systematic review; Meta-analysis; Diagnostic test accuracy

MeSH Terms

Area Under Curve
Databases, Factual
Diagnostic Tests, Routine/*statistics & numerical data
Humans
ROC Curve
*Research
Software