Chest
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Registry trials have found radial endobronchial ultrasound (r-EBUS) sensitivity to vary between institutions, suggesting that in clinical practice, r-EBUS sensitivity may be lower than reported in clinical trials. We performed a meta-analysis to update the estimates of r-EBUS sensitivity and to explore factors contributing to heterogeneity of results. ⋯ r-EBUS has an excellent safety profile, but there is significant between-study heterogeneity. Sample size-related effects and possibly publication bias have led to overly optimistic estimates of the sensitivity of r-EBUS.