Table 3 Assessment of the risk of bias of the included studies.

From: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in characterization of inconclusive cervical lymph nodes: a meta-analysis and systematic review

References

Risk of bias

Applicability concerns

Patient selection

Index test

Reference standard

Flow and timing

Patient selection

Index test

Reference standard

Poanta et al. 2014

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Xiang et al. 2014

Low

Low

Low

Unclear

Low

Low

Low

Hong et al. 2017

Low

Low

Unclear

High

Low

Low

Low

Cui et al. 2018

High

Low

Low

Low

High

Low

Low

Chen et al. 2019

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

  1. Presented are the assessed risks of bias and concerns regarding applicability of the studies following QUADAS-27 procedure. The indications obtain the degree of risk and the concerns of applicability, respectively.