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Diffusion Weighted Imaging for the Assessment of Lymph Node Metastases in Women with Cervical Cancer: A Meta-analysis
Robyn F Distelbrink1, Enise Celebi1, Constantijne H Mom2
1Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Purpose:
To assess the diagnostic performance of Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and provide optimal apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) cut-off values for differentiating between benign and metastatic lymph nodes in women with uterine cervical cancer.
Method:
MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched. Methodological quality was assessed with QUADAS-2. Data analysis was performed for three subgroups: (1) All studies; (2) Studies with maximum b-values of 800 s/mm², and (3) Studies containing b-values of 1000 s/mm². Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. The maximum Youden index was used to determine optimal ADC cut-off values, following calculations of sensitivity and specificity.
Results:
16 articles (1156 patients) were included. Overall, their quality was limited. For all studies combined, the optimum ADC cut-off value was 0.985×10⁻³ mm²/s at maximum Youden Index of 0.77, resulting in sensitivity and specificity of 84%, and 94%, respectively. Studies with b-values up to 800 s/mm², gave an optimum ADC cut-off value of 0.985×10⁻³ mm²/s at maximum Youden Index of 0.62, with a sensitivity and specificity of 62%, and 100%. Studies containing b-values of 1000 s/mm² gave an optimum ADC cut-off value of 0.9435×10⁻³ mm²/s at maximum Youden Index of 0.93, with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, and 93%, respectively.
Conclusion:
Studies using DWI including b-values of 1000 s/mm² have higher sensitivity and specificity than those with b-values up to 800 s/mm². At the cut-off value of 0.9435×10⁻³ mm²/s DWI can sufficiently discriminate between benign and metastatic lymph nodes.
