Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-0976-2 (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Diagnostic effect of shear wa ve elastography imaging for differentiation of malignant liver 
lesions: a meta -analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 27 Jan 2019  
 
Reviewer: Atsushi Nakajima  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Title： 
Diagnostic effect of shear wave elastography imaging for differentiation of malignant liver 
lesions: a met a-analysis  
Xing Hu et al, showed SWE imaging has high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating 
malignant and benign liver lesions and may be promising for noninvasive evaluation of liver 
lesions.  
This is a well written paper. However, I have some co ncerns. The following issues should be 
considered.  
 
Major  
1. Whether is there an appropriate size?  
2. They had better discuss the effect of differentiation of the malignant liver lesions, especially 
hepatocellular carcinoma. How about the effect of cap sule formation and fatty degeneration.  
 
Minor  
1. The article which showed the difference between malignant or benign liver lesions and 
background liver is few.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is  required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
  
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, p lease explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furt her 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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3. Do you hold or are you curr ently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any  other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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