Fig. 4

Comparison of combined FDG-PET derived SUV(max) scores for HPV^−ve and HPV^+ve tumours from a meta-analysis of the available literature (1946–present). a Table of collated mean SUV(max) scores alongside sample numbers for all relevant studies (* = current study). Where mean SUV(max) was not reported, indicated mean values (italics) were estimated from reported median, range and sample size²⁵ (n/k not known). b Table and Forest plot of comparison of SUV(max) for HPV^−ve vs HPV^+ve patients (mean difference, fixed effect analysis). Difference in means was +1.22 (−0.18–2.62 [95% CI]), indicating a strong trend for higher SUV(max) scores in HPV^−ve disease although no overall significance difference was proven