Refer to Exercise 1.13 (p. 8) and the University of South Florida clinical trial of smokers to compare the effectiveness of CT scans with X-rays for detecting lung cancer. (Today’s Tomorrows, Fall 2002.) Recall that each participating smoker will be randomly assigned to one of two screening methods, CT or chest X-ray, and the age (in years) at which the scanning method first detects a tumor will be determined. One goal of the study is to compare the mean ages when cancer is first detected by the two screening methods. Assuming 120 smokers participate in the trial, use a random number generator to randomly assign 60 smokers to each of the two screening methods.

Data from Exercise 1.13

A new type of screening for lung cancer, computed tomography (CT), has been developed. Medical physicists believe CT scans are more sensitive than regular X-rays in pinpointing small tumors. The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of South Florida is currently conducting a clinical trial of 50,000 smokers nationwide to compare the effectiveness of CT scans with X-rays for detecting lung cancer. (Todays’ Tomorrows, Fall 2002.) Each participating smoker is randomly assigned to one of two screening methods, CT or chest X-ray, and their progress tracked over time. In addition to the type of screening method used, the physicists recorded the age at which the scanning method first detects a tumor for each smoker.