Diagnostic accuracy of vascular endothelial growth factor for malignant pleural effusion: A meta-analysis

  • Authors:
    • Yong-Chun Shen
    • Meng-Qi Liu
    • Chun Wan
    • Lei Chen
    • Tao Wang
    • Fu-Qiang Wen
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 14, 2012     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2012.514
  • Pages: 1072-1076
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Abstract

Since the diagnostic accuracy of conventional examinations for malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is limited, a number of studies have investigated the utility of pleural vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the diagnosis of MPE. The present meta-analysis aimed to determine the overall accuracy of a VEGF test in the diagnosis of MPE. A systematic review of studies published in English was conducted and the data concerning the accuracy of pleural VEGF assays in the diagnosis of MPE were pooled with random effects models. The overall test performance was summarized using receiver operating characteristic curves. Ten studies, based on 1,025 patients, met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis and the summary estimates for VEGF in the diagnosis of MPE were: sensitivity 0.75 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72-0.79], specificity 0.72 (95% CI, 0.68-0.76), positive likelihood ratio 2.94 (95% CI, 1.97-4.41), negative likelihood ratio 0.38 (95% CI, 0.27-0.51) and diagnostic odds ratio 9.05 (95% CI, 4.60-17.80). The summary receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the maximum joint sensitivity and specificity was 0.75; the area under the curve was 0.82. Our findings suggest that the determination of pleural VEGF may improve the accuracy of MPE diagnosis, while the results of VEGF assays should be interpreted in parallel with conventional test results and other clinical findings.
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June 2012
Volume 3 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Shen Y, Liu M, Wan C, Chen L, Wang T and Wen F: Diagnostic accuracy of vascular endothelial growth factor for malignant pleural effusion: A meta-analysis. Exp Ther Med 3: 1072-1076, 2012
APA
Shen, Y., Liu, M., Wan, C., Chen, L., Wang, T., & Wen, F. (2012). Diagnostic accuracy of vascular endothelial growth factor for malignant pleural effusion: A meta-analysis. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 3, 1072-1076. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2012.514
MLA
Shen, Y., Liu, M., Wan, C., Chen, L., Wang, T., Wen, F."Diagnostic accuracy of vascular endothelial growth factor for malignant pleural effusion: A meta-analysis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 3.6 (2012): 1072-1076.
Chicago
Shen, Y., Liu, M., Wan, C., Chen, L., Wang, T., Wen, F."Diagnostic accuracy of vascular endothelial growth factor for malignant pleural effusion: A meta-analysis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 3, no. 6 (2012): 1072-1076. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2012.514