BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown to be costeffective for the staging of stage I and II breast cancer, recurrent colorectal cancer and non smallcell lung cancer. This study determines a required catchment size for the management of these three cancersbased on a breakeven analysis. MATERIAL/METHODS: Cost effectiveness analysis is used to determine thecost savings of introducing PET into the diagnostic algorithm for the staging of stage I and II breastcancer, recurrent colorectal cancer and non small cell lung cancer. The cost savings for these cancersare used to calculate a required catchment area for the installation of a PET center with cyclotron.RESULTS: The aggregate estimated "breakeven" cost of a PET study would be dollars 2195, well below theexpected cost per study. In order to break even, each PET device would require 740 new cases per year.For a general representative population, one person per 766 may benefit from a PET scan if a PET studywas included in the diagnostic algorithm for all three cancers. Finally, a calculated catchment sizeof 567,000 people would support the use of a PET center with cyclotron CONCLUSIONS: The use of PET forthe staging of cancer appears to be cost effective in most jurisdictions in Canada.

Keywords: Breast Neoplasms - radionuclide imaging, Canada, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - radionuclide imaging, Colorectal Neoplasms - radionuclide imaging, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Lung Neoplasms - radionuclide imaging, Positron-Emission Tomography - economics