Diagnosis of meningeoma. A comparison of costs before CT, during CT and after introduction of MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether the capital investment required by advances in radiological technology is offset by savings in the direct costs of diagnostic services.


METHODS
Meningeoma was used as an indicator case. All meningeoma patients from three study periods were included: Twenty patients in 1976-77 before the introduction of CT, 22 patients in 1984-85 when CT was used and 16 patients in 1992 when MR imaging had replaced CT as the most informative imaging modality. Radiological and other diagnostic investigations, and the hospital stay were identified and cost analyzed.


RESULTS
The costs of radiological examinations increased from 293 Euros in 1976-77 to 513 Euros in 1992. The average number of diagnostic examinations per patient decreased from 5.1 in 1976 77 to 2.4 in 1992. The length of hospital stay decreased from 11.5 to 2.7 days and the total costs of the diagnostic work-up decreased to one-third of the original, i.e. from 3423 Euros in 1976-77 to 1282 Euros in 1992.


CONCLUSIONS
The costs of the radiological examinations rose, but the development of radiological technology simplified the diagnostic practice. The hospital stay drastically decreased. The total costs of diagnostic work-up per patient dropped to one-third of the baseline costs.
Laurila
J
J
Department of Radiology, Oulu University Central Hospital, Finland.
Suramo
I
I
Brommels
M
M
Servo
A
A
Kotikangas
J
J
Standertskjöld-Nordenstam
C G
CG
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics*