Association of Receipt of Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Mortality in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) has been increasingly used in the management of lung cancer, but its association with survival has not been convincingly documented.

Objective

To examine the association of the use of PET-CT with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) mortality in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system from 2000 to 2013.

Design, setting, and participants

This cohort study included 64 103 veterans receiving care in the VA health care system who were diagnosed with incident NSCLC between September 2000 and December 2013. Data analysis took place in October 2018.

Exposure

Use of PET-CT before and/or after diagnosis.

Main outcomes and measures

All-cause and NSCLC-specific 5-year mortality

SUBMITTER: Vella M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6902817 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature