Cost-effectiveness of positron emission tomography for non-small cell lung carcinoma in Canada.

Background: Several studies over the past decade have demonstrated that 2-fluoro-2-D-[18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is more accurate than computed tomography (CT) for the staging of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This study uses quantitative decision tree modeling and sensitivity analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of both a CT- and a CT+PET-based management strategy for staging NSCLC in Canada. Both management costs and life expectancy are determined.