meta analysis flow chart

442 Duplicate records excluded

3111  Records identified thro-        ugh database searching

2669  Records screened

2587 Records excluded         2187 Not included CAD           252 About CAD algorithms             63 Review records             38 Not included lung CT                      scans             28 Case study             11 Records about animal                      expriments               8 Included cancer staging                    only

69 Records excluded     27 Not included CAD     18 About CAD algorithms     15 Included cancer staging            only       9 Others

13  Studies included in       systematic analysis

  82  Full-text articles assessed        for eligibility