Summary of the studies included in the meta-analysis
| Reference | Study design/blinded assessment | Number of biopsies or patients1-151 | Prevalence of malignancy | Needle type1-152 | Radiological assistance1-153 | Immediate consultation with a pathologist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knudsen et al 26 | NA/NA1-150 | 128 patients | 68.0% | A | US | NA |
| Gaspariniet al 27 | Retrospective/unblinded | 589 biopsies | 77.4% | A, C | Fluo, CT | Yes |
| Garcia Rioet al 28 | Prospective/blinded | 84 biopsies | 79.8% | A | CT | Yes |
| Burbank et al 29 | Prospective/NA | 60 biopsies | 70.0% | C | CT | Yes |
| Targhettaet al 30 | Prospective/unblinded | 64 biopsies | 82.8% | B | US | Yes |
| Grode et al 31 | Retrospective/blinded | 219 biopsies | 80.4% | A, B, C | Fluo | No |
| Yuanet al 32 | Retrospective/blinded | 30 biopsies | 80.0% | A | US | Yes |
| Collins et al 33 | Retrospective/unblinded | 129 biopsies | 91.5% | B, C | Fluo, CT | No |
| Yazdiet al 34(A) | Prospective/unblinded | 40 patients | 80.0% | B | Fluo | Yes |
| Yazdi et al 34 (B) | Prospective/unblinded | 40 patients | 80.0% | C | Fluo | Yes |
| Veale et al 35 (A) | Retrospective/unblinded | 95 biopsies | 76.8% | A | Fluo | Yes |
| Veale et al 35 (B) | Prospective/unblinded | 100 biopsies | 87.0% | A | Fluo | Yes |
| Simpsonet al 36 | Retrospective/blinded | 222 biopsies | 93.7% | B | Fluo | No |
| Lovett et al 37 | Retrospective/unblinded | 92 biopsies | 85.9% | A | Fluo | Yes |
| Levineet al 38 | Retrospective/NA | 58 biopsies | 58.6% | NA | Fluo | NA |
| Baslovet al 23 | Retrospective/unblinded | 284 biopsies | 72.5% | C | Fluo | No |
| Weisbrodet al 39 | Prospective/unblinded | 126 biopsies | 71.4% | C | Fluo | No |
| Stanleyet al 40 | Retrospective/unblinded | 440 patients | 73.4% | A | Fluo, CT | Yes |
| Winninget al 41 | Retrospective/NA | 165 biopsies | 76.4% | A | Fluo | NA |
| Costrini42 | Prospective/unblinded | 34 biopsies | 70.6% | A | Fluo, CT | Yes |
| Nahmanet al 43 | Retrospective/unblinded | 120 biopsies | 85.8% | B | Fluo | Yes |
| Lees et al 44 | Prospective/unblinded | 81 biopsies | 82.7% | A, B | Fluo, CT, US | No |
| Greeneet al 45 | Prospective/blinded | 145 biopsies | 81.4% | B | Fluo | No |
| Crosby et al 46 | Retrospective/unblinded | 164 patients | 92.1% | A | Fluo, CT, US | No |
| Stevenset al 47 | Prospective/unblinded | 348 patients | 64.1% | A, B, C | Fluo | No |
| Harrisonet al 48 | Prospective/unblinded | 85 biopsies | 77.6% | C | Fluo | Yes |
| McEvoyet al 49 | NA/NA | 79 patients | 86.1% | C | Fluo | No |
| Johnsonet al 50 | NA/NA | 200 biopsies | 68.5% | A, B | Fluo, CT | Yes |
| Vineet al 51 | NA/NA | 91 biopsies | 69.2% | C | Fluo | NA |
| Samuelssonet al 52 | Retrospective/unblinded | 345 patients | 65.9% | A | Fluo | No |
| Pilottiet al 53 | Retrospective/unblinded | 130 patients | 88.5% | A | Fluo | No |
| Pak et al 54 | NA/NA | 52 biopsies | 82.7% | A, B | Fluo | Yes |
| Jamieson et al 55 | NA/NA | 84 biopsies | 78.6% | A, B | Fluo | Yes |
| Allison et al 56 | Retrospective/blinded | 147 patients | 78.9% | B | Fluo | Yes |
| Westcottet al 57 | Retrospective/unblinded | 400 patients | 73.3% | B | Fluo | No |
| Taft et al 58 | Retrospective/blinded | 100 biopsies | 80.0% | B | Fluo | No |
| Poe et al 59 | Retrospective/unblinded | 95 biopsies | 81.1% | B | Fluo | Yes |
| Floweret al 60 | Retrospective/unblinded | 282 biopsies | 71.3% | B | Fluo | No |
| Sagel et al 61 | Retrospective/unblinded | 1153 patients | 77.7% | B | Fluo | No |
| Lalli et al 62 | NA/NA | 1204 biopsies | 78.5% | B | Fluo | NA |
| Meyer et al 63 | Prospective/unblinded | 39 patients | 87.2% | A | Fluo | No |
| House et al 64 | Retrospective/unblinded | 85 patients | 67.1% | B | Fluo | Yes |
| Francis65 | Retrospective/unblinded | 244 biopsies | 67.6% | B | Fluo | Yes |
| Baker et al 66 | Retrospective/unblinded | 22 biopsies | 81.8% | B | Fluo | Yes |
| Pavy et al 67 | Retrospective/unblinded | 56 biopsies | 91.1% | B | Fluo | No |
| Stevenset al 68 69 | Prospective/unblinded | 100 patients | 62.0% | B | Fluo | No |
| Nasiell70 | NA/NA | 138 biopsies | 60.1% | B | Fluo | NA |
| King et al 71 | Prospective/unblinded | 59 patients | 81.4% | A | Fluo | No |
↵1-150 NA = information not available
↵1-151 Number of biopsies included in the statistical analysis; excludes patients lost to follow up.
↵1-152 Needle type: A = aspiration needle; B = aspiration biopsy needle; C = cutting needle.
↵1-153 Radiological assistance: Fluo = fluoroscopy; CT = chest tomodensitometry; US = ultrasound.