Metaregression results
| Covariates | Subgroups | Pooled Sensitivity (95% CI) | P Value | Pooled Specificity (95% CI) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis method | Per LN | 89% (84%–94%) | .42 | 87% (80–93%) | .43 |
| Per patient | 95% (85%–100%) | 97% (89–100%) | |||
| Percentage of metastatic LN | <36.7% | 86% (78%–94%) | .20 | 86% (77–95%) | .25 |
| ≥36.7% | 92% (88%–97%) | 89% (81%–97%) | |||
| Underlying disease | HNSCC | 91% (86%–96%) | .29 | 88% (81%–95%) | .37 |
| Oral SCC | 87% (76%–97%) | 86% (74%–99%) | |||
| Study design | Prospective | 91% (86%–96%) | .74 | 89% (84%–94%) | .15 |
| Retrospective | 85% (64%–100%) | 68% (24%–100%) | |||
| Consecutive enrollment | Yes | 92% (87%–96%) | .30 | 91% (89%–94%) | .92 |
| No | 86% (76%–96%) | 68% (56%–80%) | |||
| No. of readers | 2 | 90% (84%–95%) | .42 | 87% (80%–94%) | .53 |
| 1 | 89% (76%–100%) | 85% (70%–100%) | |||
| Magnetic field strength | 3T | 92% (86%–98%) | .12 | 87% (79%–96%) | .11 |
| 1.5T | 89% (82%–95%) | 88% (80%–96%) | |||
| Maximum b-value | <1000 | 88% (79%–96%) | .16 | 86% (76%–97%) | .27 |
| 1000 | 91% (86%–97%) | 89% (82%–96%) | |||
| Slice thickness | 3 mm | 93% (88%–98%) | <.01 | 86% (78%–94%) | .49 |
| >3 mm | 86% (77%–95%) | 93% (88%–99%) | |||
| ADC measurement | Whole node | 93% (89%–97%) | .19 | 89% (82%–97%) | .28 |
| Single section | 86% (79%–94%) | 86% (76%–95%) |
Note:—ADC indicates apparent diffusion coefficient; HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; LN, lymph node; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma.