lead-time bias

lead-time bias

apparent increased survival time resultant from earlier, more timely, diagnosis.

lead-time bias

Pronounced Leed A bias introduced into a long-term study of the efficacy of a particular therapeutic maneuver–eg, RT or chemotherapy for malignancy; if the disease is diagnosed early–due to a newer or more sensitive diagnostic procedure or technique, the maneuver is viewed as being effective, when in fact the Pt survives 'longer' because his disease was diagnosed earlier. See Will Rogers effect.