A problem that is frequently encountered during the systematic review process is when studies that meet the inclusion criteria do not provide the appropriate numerical estimates to include in a meta-analysis. For dichotomous outcomes, a method has been suggested by Di Pietrantonj for reconstructing the 2 × 2 table when the Odds Ratio ("OR"), the Standard Error ("SE"("lnOR")) and the sample sizes are provided. The method produces two possible 2 × 2 tables; and to select the correct one, the Control Group Risk ("CGR") is used. As "CGR" is typically unknown and only rounded figures of the "OR" and SE(lnOR) are provided, the accuracy of the reconstruction method varies. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of the method using simulated and empirical data. Small studies with large "OR" and "CGR" away from 50% are reconstructed satisfactorily, and the use of "SE"("lnOR") rounded to the third decimal rather than the second one improves the performance of the method. However, when "CGR" is unknown, its estimation from other studies is problematic as it exhibits high heterogeneity. Inclusion of an incorrectly reconstructed table in the meta-analysis may result in different summary effects. Reviewers that consider applying the method should be cautious about its impact in the meta-analysis.