Diagnostic Performance of ¹⁸F-FDG PET(CT) in Bone-Bone Marrow Involvement in Pediatric Neuroblastoma: A Systemic...

We sought to perform a systemic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography (computed tomography) (PET(CT)) in detection of bone and/or bone marrow involvement (BMI) in pediatric neuroblastoma (NB).

We searched electronic databases Pubmed and Embase to retrieve relevant references. We calculated pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the area under the curve (AUC). Moreover, a summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and likelihood ratio dot plot were plotted. Study-between statistical heterogeneity was evaluated via I-square index (I ²). Subgroup analyses were used to explore heterogeneity.

Seven studies including 127 patients were involved in this meta-analysis. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.65-0.96) with heterogeneity I ² = 88.1% (p < 0.001) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.67-1.00) with heterogeneity I ² = 77.8% (p < 0.001), respectively. The pooled LR+, LR-, and DOR were 21.3 (95% CI: 2.1-213.9), 0.14 (95% CI: 0.05-0.40), and 157 (95% CI: 16-1532), respectively. The area under the SROC curve was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-0.98).

Through a meta-analysis, this study suggested that ¹⁸F-FDG PET(CT) has a good overall diagnostic accuracy in the detection of bone/BMI in pediatric neuroblastoma.