CALCULATION OF ACTUARIAL LIFE-TABLES WITH USE OF A MICROCOMPUTER SPREADSHEET PROGRAM

PURPOSE: To simplify the calculation of the life-table method of survi val analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A template was developed for use with a popular microcomputer spreadsheet program to perform life-table survival calculations and to perform statistical comparisons between the survivals of groups of patients with use of the log-rank test. RES ULTS: The template successfully performed life-table and log-rank calc ulations when compared with two standard, accepted statistical computi ng programs. CONCLUSION: The template can be used to quickly perform l ife-table calculations that can be used in the long-term follow-up of patients undergoing interventional radiologic procedures.