Ultrasound in medicine & biology
-
Ultrasound Med Biol · Oct 2013
Meta AnalysisDiagnostic value of transthoracic echocardiography for patent foramen ovale: a meta-analysis.
As a non-invasive and convenient modality, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has been widely recommended for the diagnosis of patent foramen ovale (PFO). In this study our aim was to systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of TTE in detection of PFO. We conducted comprehensive searches in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library to the end of September 1, 2012. ⋯ The summary diagnostic odds ratio was 221 (95% CI, 95-518). Subgroup analyses suggested that age and initial disease may affect the accuracy of TTE in detection of PFO. The meta-analysis suggested that TTE is a test with high sensitivity and specificity in detection of PFO, but it may not be appropriate for screening for PFO in all patients, especially patients with a small right-left shunt.