Fig. 3.

Random-effects meta-analysis of PCI versus no PCI for primary outcome of overall survival among patients confirmed not to have brain metastases via MRI after completion of first-line therapy. Studies are stratified by disease stage. Boxes represent individual study effect sizes. The vertical solid line represents the point of equivalence between PCI and no PCI. The vertical dotted line represents the points of summary for the random effects model. The diamonds represent 95% CI for the summary hazard ratios. The red box represents the summary prediction interval. 95% CI = 95% confidence interval; AHRQ = Agency for Health Research and Quality; ED = extensive stage disease; HR = hazard ratio; LD = limited stage disease; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; NR = not reported; OS = overall survival; PCI = prophylactic cranial irradiation; RCS = retrospective cohort study; RCT = randomised controlled trial; RoB = risk of bias.