摘要
BACKGROUND Microvessel density(MVD)has been proposed as a direct quantification method of tumor neovascularization.However,the current literature regarding the role of MVD in differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC)remains inconclusive.AIM To appraise the effect of tumoral MVD on the survival of patients with DTC.METHODS This meta-analysis was based on the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.The electronic databases Medline,Web of Science,and Scopus were systematically screened.A fixedeffects or random-effects model was used,according to the Cochran Q test.The data were then extracted and assessed on the basis of the Reference Citation Analysis(https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/).RESULTS A total of nine studies were included in the present study.Superiority of low MVD tumors in terms of 10-year disease free survival(OR:0.21,95%CI:0.08–0.53)was recorded.Lowly vascularized thyroid cancers had a lower recurrence rate(OR:13.66,95%CI:3.03–61.48).Moreover,relapsing tumors[weighed mean difference(WMD):11.92,95%CI:6.32–17.52]or malignancies with regional lymph node involvement(WMD:8.53,95%CI:0.04–17.02)presented with higher tumoral MVD values.CONCLUSION MVD significantly correlates with the survival outcomes of thyroid cancer patients.However,considering several study limitations,further prospective studies of higher methodological and quality level are required.
