Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01558-8 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
The New American Joint Committee on Cancer T Staging System for
Stomach: Increased Complexity without Clear Improvement in Predictive
Accuracy for Endoscopic Ultrasound
Version: 
3 
Date: 
23 Jul 2020
Reviewer's report:
Major concerns
1. 
Even if the efficacy of EUS for AJCC 6th edition is better than it for 7th/8th
edition, it is not practical to use the previous edition of classification. Therefore,
the comparison between these is not significant. Whereas, it is meaningful to
clarify the diagnostic ability of EUS for the current edition and the factors
influencing the staging of gastric cancer by EUS. Comparing the efficacy of
EUS for AJCC 6th edition and 7/8th edition is needed? I thought that describing
only the characteristics of diagnostic ability of EUS for the 8th edition and the
factors influencing the staging of gastric cancer by EUS was better.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
No
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes