Anke Hovels, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Roel Heesakkers MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eddy Adang PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gerrit Jager PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jelle O. Barentsz MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The aim of this study was to compare the cost of a strategy including MRL in a specific setting to a pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) and/or computed tomography (CT) in patients with prostate cancer from the health care perspective.

A decision analytic model was constructed. The decision analytic model represented the diagnostic process for patients with prostate cancer and an intermediate or high probability for lymph node metastases comparing the three staging methods MRL, CT and PLND on costs. The costs of each staging method were calculated using the absorption costing approach. The baseline and range of the costs of each strategy were calculated based on 50 patients in our institution. Prices were converted from Euro to US dollars at a current exchange rate of 1,1265.

: The decision analytic model indicated that the expected costs for the strategy using MRL were $2846.37. (range: $2625.70-$3067.05) The total expected costs for the strategy using CT were $4321.85 (range: $4308.56-$4335.14) and for PLND $4489.81 (range: $2036.45-$8178.00). These results show that the potential savings performing MRL instead of CT were $1475.47 and $1652.36 for PLND. Sensitivity analyses show that variation in the costs of a PLND was most influential on the costs of the staging methods. However, the overall savings pattern did not alter.

Decision analysis shows that the average costs in our institution of MRL staging are less than for CT and/or PLND in staging the lymph nodes of patients with prostate cancer and an intermediate or high probability for lymph node metastases

Hovels, A, Heesakkers, R, Adang, E, Jager, G, Barentsz, J, Cost-analysis of Staging Methods for Lymph Nodes in Patients with Prostate Cancer: MRI with a Lymph Node Specific Contrast Agent Compared to Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection or CT.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4415510.html