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World J Meta-Anal. Aug 26, 2014; 2(3): 127-134
Published online Aug 26, 2014. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v2.i3.127
Published online Aug 26, 2014. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v2.i3.127
Decision-tree analysis for cost-effective management of solitary pulmonary nodules in China
Bei Lu, Li-Xin Sun, Xi Yan, Zhen-Zhong Ai, Jin-Zhi Xu, Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
Author contributions: This research paper was written by Lu B as the first author under supervision of Xu JZ; Sun LX retrieved and analyzed all medical literatures; Yan X and Ai ZZ prepared the illustrations and the statistical analysis.
Correspondence to: Dr. Jin-Zhi Xu, Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.37, Yi yuan Street, Nan gang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China. 13836027105@139.com
Telephone: +86-451-82576963
Received: February 25, 2014
Revised: May 17, 2014
Accepted: July 18, 2014
Published online: August 26, 2014
Processing time: 212 Days and 1.2 Hours
Revised: May 17, 2014
Accepted: July 18, 2014
Published online: August 26, 2014
Processing time: 212 Days and 1.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: It has become a major concern how to manage solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) discovered in the clinical setting with low cost and high accuracy and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with radiation, biopsy, and surgical procedures. However, up to now there has not been an analysis of cost-effectiveness of various strategies for the diagnosis and management of SPN in China. Recent studies in other countries may not hold true in a Chinese hospital because of differences in health-care systems and diagnostic strategy. We are the first to perform such an analysis for the cost-effective management of solitary pulmonary nodules in China.