Meta-analysis

Last revised by Francesco Sciacca on 30 Jan 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Sciacca F, Bell D, Meta-analysis. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 May 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-182580

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-182580

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/182580

rID:

182580

Article created:

20 Jan 2024, Francesco Sciacca ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Francesco Sciacca had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Francesco Sciacca's current disclosures

Last revised:

30 Jan 2024, Francesco Sciacca ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Francesco Sciacca had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Francesco Sciacca's current disclosures

Revisions:

5 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Sections:

Imaging Technology

Tags:

statistics

Synonyms:

Meta-analyses

Meta-analysis (plural: meta-analyzes) is a statistical technique that returns in a single numerical estimate (synthesis) the results of multiple clinical trials relating, for example, to the same pharmacological treatment^1,2. Meta-analyzes of RCTs specifically, are the most robust evidence of evidence based medicine (EBM) ³. Characteristic of meta-analyzes is that they must always be preceded by systematic reviews ^4,5. The homogeneity of the studies included in the systematic review is of fundamental importance, otherwise developing a meta-analysis is not correct; in these cases it is better to favor qualitative approaches ⁶.