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Fig 1. Decision analysis model. Decision tree showing the two treatment choices for evaluating a highly suspicious solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) in which traditional thoracoscopy is not possible because of the location of the nodule. The clinician has two strategies (
= decision node); one is to perform a radiotracer-guided thoracoscopic resection (RGTR) or a traditional thoracotomy. The patient may or may not have a successful radiotracer-guided thoracoscopic resection procedure that relates to the probability of success (
= the occurrence of chance events-chance node). Probability of 5-year survival is based on the disease found and the costs of the strategy (
= terminal node). Estimated probabilities and costs are listed in Table 1.
