Selection and eligibility
Rayyan software (Qatar Computing Research Institute, HBKU, Doha, Qatar)
was used for title and abstract screening for eligibility (R.V.), and
subsequent duplicate removal9. A second reviewer
(J.H.) double-checked study eligibility with discrepancies solved by
consensus discussion. Studies were included in our meta-analysis if they
met the following predefined criteria: (1) randomized controlled trial,
prospective or retrospective cohort study; (2) patients with clinically
FIGO stage I or II EOC defined according to the FIGO guidelines. In most
studies CT, MRI and/or ultrasound were used in the preoperative workup
to detect or exclude metastatic disease; (3) comprehensive surgical
staging adhering to the FIGO guideline at the time of surgery, completed
in all included patients and with a full description of the performed
surgery; (4) results presented on tumor status and upstaging rate for
the various components of the staging surgery.
Studies were excluded when they were: (1) not written in English,
non-human, or if the full-text version was not available; (2) patients
with other malignancies in present or past.