Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules

Figure 2. The algorithm pertains to patients with low (10% to 50%), intermediate (51% to 76%), and high (77% to 90%) pretest probability of malignancy. Note that in patients with very low pretest probability (<10%), biopsy is preferred when computed tomography ( ) results are possibly malignant and watchful waiting is preferred when CT results suggest a benign diagnosis. In patients with very high pretest probability (>90%), surgery without diagnostic testing is the preferred strategy. FDG-PET = positron emission tomography with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose.
Figure 2. The algorithm pertains to patients with low (10% to 50%), intermediate (51% to 76%), and high (77% to 90%) pretest probability of malignancy. Note that in patients with very low pretest probability (<10%), biopsy is preferred when computed tomography ( ) results are possibly malignant and watchful waiting is preferred when CT results suggest a benign diagnosis. In patients with very high pretest probability (>90%), surgery without diagnostic testing is the preferred strategy. FDG-PET = positron emission tomography with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose. Suggested algorithm for clinical management of patients with solitary pulmonary nodules who are at average risk for surgical complications.CT

This Article

  1. Ann Intern Med May 6, 2003 vol. 138 no. 9 724-735
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