More and more systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy studies are being published,
but they can be methodologically challenging. In this paper, the authors present some of the …

Although liver transplantation is a widely accepted treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),
much controversy remains and there is no generally accepted set of guidelines. An …

Background: Studies of diagnostic accuracy are subject to different sources of bias and
variation than studies that evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention. Little is known about the …

In 2003, the QUADAS tool for systematic reviews of diagnostic accuracy studies was
developed. Experience, anecdotal reports, and feedback suggested areas for improvement; …

Background In the era of evidence based medicine, with systematic reviews as its cornerstone,
adequate quality assessment tools should be available. There is currently a lack of a …

Diagnostic testing can be used to discriminate subjects with a target disorder from subjects
without it. Several indicators of diagnostic performance have been proposed, such as …

ContextThe literature contains a large number of potential biases in the evaluation of
diagnostic tests. Strict application of appropriate methodological criteria would invalidate the …

Background The benefits of preoperative biliary drainage, which was introduced to improve
the postoperative outcome in patients with obstructive jaundice caused by a tumor of the …

Diagnostic accuracy studies are, like other clinical studies, at risk of bias due to shortcomings
in design and conduct, and the results of a diagnostic accuracy study may not apply to …

Background An intravenous course of standard (unfractionated) heparin with the dose
adjusted to prolong the activated partial-thromboplastin time to a desired length is the standard …