Table 4.
Results of meta-analysis for diagnostic value of FNA cytology, BRAFV600E-mutation analysis, and the combined strategy in all FNA specimens
| Parameter | FNA
|
BRAF
|
FNA + BRAF
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | 95% CI | Heterogeneity, I2 | Result | 95% CI | Heterogeneity, I2 | Result | 95% CI | Heterogeneity, I2 | |
| Pooled sensitivity | 0.814 | 0.803–0.824 | 93.5% | 0.619 | 0.605–0.633 | 93% | 0.874 | 0.865–0.884 | 92.5% |
| Pooled specificity | 0.981 | 0.978–0.985 | 86.4% | 0.997 | 0.995–0.998 | 14.1% | 0.968 | 0.963–0.972 | 92.5% |
| Pooled LR, + | 23.868 | 14.139–40.293 | 87.7% | 34.982 | 23.801–51.415 | 19.5% | 22.353 | 13.027–38.355 | 93.1% |
| Pooled LR, − | 0.216 | 0.172–0.273 | 94.2% | 0.433 | 0.384–0.489 | 91.8% | 0.146 | 0.111–0.192 | 93% |
| Pooled DOR SROC | 127.73 | 75.082–217.28 | 76.1% | 96.570 | 63.932–145.87 | 21.4% | 187.92 | 110.24–320.35 | 76.4% |
| AUC | 0.9551 | 0.9207 | 0.9744 | ||||||
| Q* | 0.8975 | 0.8542 | 0.9271 | ||||||
Note:
*
The Q index indicates the point at which sensitivity is equal to specificity.
Abbreviations: FNA, fine-needle aspiration; CI, confidence interval; LR, likelihood ratio; DOR, diagnostic odds ratio; SROC, summary receiver-operating characteristic; AUC, area under the curve.