Table 1 Characteristics of the evaluated screening scenarios

Population:

50-74-30-15

Values arranged as

(eligibility criteria of the NLST clinical trial)

age at begin smoking - age at quit smoking - minimum pack years - maximum years since quitting smoking

55-80-30-15

(as recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for lung screening with LDCT [2])

50-75-15-9

(less restrictive eligibility criteria, similar to the NELSON trial)

55-75-40-10

(more restrictive eligibility criteria) [18]

Nodule management algorithm

NELSON-like

VDT _cut = 400 days – V _cut = 500 mm³

Scenario is characterised by the threshold value of the volume doubling time (VDT _cut) and the cut-off volume (V _cut) for cancer positive

(values of the NELSON clinical trial)

VDT _cut = 400 days – VDT _cut = 300 mm³

VDT _cut = 400 days – VDT _cut = 400 mm³

VDT _cut = 400 days – VDT _cut = 750 mm³

VDT _cut = 300 days – VDT _cut = 500 mm³

VDT _cut = 600 days – VDT _cut = 500 mm³

VDT _cut = 300 days – omitting VDT _cut ^a

VDT _cut = 400 days – omitting VDT _cut ^a

VDT _cut = 600 days – omitting VDT _cut ^a

V _fup = 80 mm³ – VDT _cut = 400 days – VDT _cut = 500 mm^{3 b}

NLST-like

Growth _cut = 10% – D _cut = 10 mm

Scenario is characterised by the threshold value of the tumour growth and the diameter (D _cut) for cancer positive

(values of the NLST clinical trial)

Growth _cut = 10% – D _cut = 9 mm

Growth _cut = 10% – D _cut = 11 mm

Growth _cut = 7.5% – D _cut = 10 mm

Tumour growth (threshold growth, Growth _cut) is defined as a percentage increase in diameter

Growth _cut = 12.5% – D _cut = 10 mm

Growth _cut = 7.5% – omitting D _cut ^a

Growth _cut = 10% – omitting D _cut ^a

Growth _cut = 12.5% – omitting D _cut ^a

D _fup = 5 mm – Growth = 10% – D _cut = 10 mm^b