Main Results
The pooled sensitivity of FSE among 31 eligible studies (1887 patients)
was 0.77 (95% CI 0.66–0.85) with
high heterogeneity (I 2=69.73%). Two
representative FSE protocols were identified from 26 studies, described
as equatorial (E-protocol, SLN was bisected) and latitudinal
(L-protocol, SLN was cut at intervals). Meta-regression showed that FSE
protocol was the only source of heterogeneity (p<0.001). The
pooled sensitivity was 0.86 (95% CI 0.79–0.91,I 2=0%) and 0.59 (0.46–0.72,I 2=58.47%) for FSE using L- and E- protocol,
respectively. The pooled sensitivity of FSE using L-protocol would reach
0.97 (0.89–0.99) if only
marcometastases were considered. These findings were robust to
sensitivity analyses.