Systematic review in diagnostic radiology

Abstract

Systematic review (SR) already makes a major contribution to evidence-based healthcare by making the review process transparent and by reducing bias. SR has been successfully applied to observational studies. Radiologists have already begun to make an impact in dentistry by using SR as a decision-making tool. Central to SR is establishment of a research question, selection criteria, a search plan, a literature search, an appraisal of the identified literature by the selection criteria; an analysis and a formulation of recommendations. With regard to the literature search, electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Science Citation Index, Lilacs), controlled subject headings, exploding and free-text searching, handsearching and the gray literature are discussed.