Positron emission tomography
Flynn K, Adams E, Anderson D
Record ID 31998008699
English
Authors' objectives:
The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate what is known about the usefulness of PET in diagnosing diseases of importance to the veteran population. The reviews included address two additional queries:
Is PET an accurate diagnostic test when applied to patients with head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer/solitary pulmonary nodules, and Alzheimer's disease?
Does PET affect patient management decisions, outcomes of care, costs of care, or cost-effectiveness of care in head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer/solitary pulmonary nodules, or Alzheimer's disease?
Authors' recommendations:
The systematic review of the literature indicates, to the extent that the published literature represents the existing data, that the knowledge base supporting clinical diagnostic applications of PET has significant deficiencies. Methodologic weaknesses in published studies seriously limit the validity and generalisability of the available evidence on the accuracy of PET as a diagnostic test, and PET's contribution to improving outcomes has not been systematically addressed. Accordingly, the assessment team believes that the literature as of September 1996 does not support widespread incorporation of PET studies into routine diagnostic strategies for the applications addressed in this assessment.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
Year Published:
1996
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
United States
MeSH Terms
- Alzheimer Disease
- Breast Neoplasms
- Colorectal Neoplasms
- Head and Neck Neoplasms
- Lung Neoplasms
- Neoplasms
- Tomography, Emission-Computed
Contact
Organisation Name:
VA Technology Assessment Program
Contact Address:
Liz Adams, VA Technology Assessment Program, Office of Patient Care Services (11T), VA Boston Healthcare System Room 4D-142, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130 USA Tel: +1 617 278 4469; Fax: +1 617 264 6587;
Contact Name:
elizabeth.adams@med.va.gov
Contact Email:
elizabeth.adams@med.va.gov
Copyright:
US Department of Veterans Affairs
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.