Usefulness outcome in evaluating the utility of nuclear scans of the bone, brain, and liver in bronchogenic carcinoma patients.

In this study we employed the concept of the outcome audit to assess the "benefit" (in contrast to the number of positive readings) derived from 81 bone, 45 brain, and 47 liver scans, performed on 59 bronchogenic carcinoma patients. Benefit was rigorously defined and based on any outcome instrumental in the subsequent management of the patient. Clinically indicated scans were frequently found to be of benefit, while those without indications were not (88.0% vs. 12.5%). Negative scans were as useful as positive scans if clinically indicated (14.0% vs. 9.6%). Histology did not influence the likelihood of benefit. We conclude that scans obtained to evaluate a clinical abnormality are likely to be useful whether positive or negative while scans ordered without specific clinical indications are unlikely to be of management benefit.