MTA1 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes: In the subgroup containing high-quality studies, similar results of MTA1 expression showed a higher risk of lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.62, 95%CI: 1.89–3.63, P<0.001, Fig 5A), advanced TNM stage of DTC (OR = 3.81, 95%CI: 2.38–6.12, P<0.001) and a greater possibility of vascular invasion (OR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.31–2.90, P = 0.001).