Legend: NA= not applicable. PT= prospective trial. RCT = randomized controlled trail RCS = retrospective case study. Symbols: satisfactory (●), partly satisfactory (○), or unsatisfactory (-). Inclusion: high Directness of Evidence.
Explanatory Legend of table 1: Critical appraisal of studies reporting on surgical treatment of 2nd branchial arch cysts
Assessed Study Aspect:
DIRECTNESS OF EVIDENCE:Domain: -2nd branchial cyst only or 2nd branchial cysts reported separately - also other branchial arch anomalies included -
Determinant: - clear description of surgical technique - unclear description of surgical technique ○ - no description of surgical technique -
Outcome: - recurrence rate clearly mentioned - no recurrence rate mentioned -
RISK OF BIAS:1.Patient selection: - Clear inclusion and exclusion criteria - Unclear inclusion and exclusion criteria -
2. Allocation concealment: - type of treatment is randomly assigned - treatment is not randomly assigned - - Not applicable NA
3. Blinding: - the two treatment groups were blinded for the researchers - the two treatment groups were not blinded for the researchers - - Not applicable NA
4. Incomplete outcome: - <10% loss to follow up - >10% loss to follow up or unclear -
5. Follow up: - > 1 year - > 6 months ○ - unclear -
6. Selective reporting: - clear definition and description of complications - unclear or no definition and description of complications -
DIRECTNESS OF EVIDENCE: = 1 point ○ = 0,5 point - = 0 points RISK OF BIAS: - = 1 point ○ = 0,5 point = 0 points
Table 2: Results of the included studies selected from the systematic review.