Table 1.
Characteristics of the studies included in the meta-analysis
| Author | Date of publication | Data of collection | Number of patients | Study period | % Child– Pugh A | % of patients with >1 nodule | % liver etiology (HBV; HCV; alcohol; metabolic; other) | Follow-up | The Newcastle– Ottawa scale (NOS); total score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee et al9 | 2014 | Retrospective study | 162 | 2006–2007 | 84.6 | 10.5 | (72.9; 21.6; 3.7; NR; NR) | Mean 50.3 ± 19.9 | 8 |
| El-Fattah et al10 | 2016 | SEER registries | 1,981 | 2004–2012 | NR | 26.2 | NR | Median 20; range 9–38 | 7 |
| Zhang et al11 | 2017 | Retrospective study | 410 | 2005–2016 | 97.7 | NR | NR | NR | 7 |
| Kao et al12 | 2017 | Retrospective study | 622 | 2002–2013 | 86.5 | 19.1 | (47.7; 43.2; NR; NR; 9.1) | Median 35.7 | 9 |
| Cho et al13 | 2016 | Retrospective study | 438 | 2006–2009 | 85.9 | NR | (72.4; 16.2; 3.9; NR; 6.4) | Median 68.4 | 8 |
| Kang et al14 | 2017 | Retrospective study | 572 | 2006–2012 | 81.8 | NR | (63.6; 14.4; NR; NR; 10.5) | Median 57.9 | 8 |
| Lin et al15 | 2015 | Retrospective study | 70 | 2009–2011 | 85.7 | 46.9 | (45.7; 44.3; NR; NR; NR) | Median 20.7 ± 10.3 | 9 |
| Yang et al16 | 2016 | Retrospective study | 316 | 2000–2013 | 77 | 21.6 | (86.6; 10.2; 1.9; NR; 1.3) | Mean 20.4 | 9 |
| Dohi et al17 | 2016 | Retrospective study | 357 | 2001–2013 | 84 | 31.4 | (12.1; 81.4; NR; NR; NR) | NR | 8 |
| Gao et al18 | 2015 | Retrospective study | 184 | 2005–2013 | 51 | NR | (87; 9; NR; NR; 2) | Median 65 | 9 |
| Montasser et al20 | 2014 | Retrospective study | 105 | 2007–2011 | NR | 28.6 | (2.8; 94.2; NR; NR; 1.9) | Mean 20.1 ± 10.67 | 8 |
| Facciorusso et al21 | 2014 | Not indicated | 103 | 2005–2010 | 83.4 | NR | (22.3; 60.1; NR; NR; 17.6) | NR | 7 |
| Dan et al22 | 2013 | Retrospective study | 178 | 2005–2008 | 83.9 | NR | (89.2; NR; NR; NR; NR) | Median 52.7 | 8 |
| Lee et al23 | 2014 | Retrospective study | 161 | 2006–2007 | 86.9 | 22.6 | (72; 19; NR; NR; 6) | Mean 45 ± 21 | 8 |
| Moribata et al24 | 2012 | Retrospective study | 97 | 2001–2006 | 63.6 | NR | (NR; 88.6; NR; NR; NR) | NR | 7 |
| Lu et al25 | 2012 | Not indicated | 661 | 2004–2006 | NR | NR | (NR; NR; NR; NR; NR) | Median 41.9 | 8 |
| Kao et al26 | 2012 | Retrospective study | 313 | 2002–2009 | 87.5 | 16 | (44.7; 47.2; NR; NR; NR) | Median 26.7 ± 19.1 | 7 |
| Chen et al27 | 2012 | Retrospective study | 158 | 2003–2010 | 84.8 | 19.7 | (36; NR; NR; NR; NR) | Mean 34 | 8 |
| Giorgio et al28 | 2011 | Not indicated | 143 | 2005–2010 | 50 | NR | (42.9; 57; NR; NR; NR) | Mean 37 | 8 |
| Goto et al29 | 2011 | Retrospective study | 69 | 2000–2007 | 78.2 | NR | (23.1; NR; NR; NR; NR) | Median 17 | 9 |
| Chen et al30 | 2011 | Retrospective study | 135 | 2003–2009 | NR | 16.8 | (34.3; 56.3; NR; NR; NR) | Mean 32.2 | 8 |
| Rossi et al31 | 2011 | Retrospective study | 706 | 1998–2008 | 76.2 | 21.7 | (4.5; 85.9; 4.2; NR; 2.4) | Median 29 | 7 |
| Takahashi et al32 | 2010 | Retrospective study | 461 | 2000–2007 | 77 | 37 | (5.4; 85.2; NR; NR; NR) | NR | 7 |
| Imai et al33 | 2010 | Not indicated | 24 | 2006–2007 | 83.3 | NR | (NR; NR; NR; NR; NR) | Mean 12.3 | 7 |
| dal Bello et al34 | 2010 | Retrospective study | 207 | 2000–2008 | 91.8 | 20.3 | (NR; NR; NR; NR; NR) | Median 36 | 7 |
| N’Kontchou et al35 | 2009 | Retrospective study | 235 | 2001–2007 | 85 | 22 | (7; 50; 37; NR; 4) | Mean 27 | 8 |
| Chinnaratha et al36 | 2015 | Retrospective study | 539 | 2006–2012 | 73 | NR | (18.3; 33.3; 15.1; 8.7; NR) | Mean 13.5 | 8 |
| Kao et al37 | 2012 | Retrospective study | 258 | NR | 87.6 | 19.5 | (42.9; 47.6; NR; NR; NR) | Median 28.5 | 8 |
| Lencioni et al38 | 2003 | Prospective study | 102 | NR | 87 | 23 | (12; 42; 15; NR; 6) | Mean 22.9 | 9 |
| Kao et al39 | 2011 | Retrospective study | 190 | 2002–2007 | 84.2 | 20 | (47.6; 45.7; NR; NR; NR) | Median 30.7 | 8 |
| Tajiri et al40 | 2016 | Retrospective study | 163 | 2003–2014 | 79.1 | NR | (15.9; 68; NR; NR; NR) | NR | 7 |
| Oh et al41 | 2017 | Retrospective study | 368 | 2007–2012 | 100 | NR | (78; NR; NR; NR; NR) | Median 61 | 8 |
| Lo et al42 | 2017 | Retrospective study | 152 | 2007–2015 | 78.3 | NR | (53.3; 30.9; NR; NR; NR) | Median 10 | 8 |
Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; NR, not reported; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results.