title: The cost-effectiveness of 18FDG-PET in selecting patients with suspicion of recurrent laryngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy for direct laryngoscopy.
abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of (18)FDG-PET in the selection for direct laryngoscopy in patients with suspicion of recurrent laryngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy. The direct medical costs of 30 patients with suspicion of a recurrence were calculated from the first visit where suspicion was raised until one year after. A conventional strategy, in which all these patients underwent direct laryngoscopy, was compared to an (18)FDG-PET strategy in which only patients with a positive or equivocal (18)FDG-PET underwent direct laryngoscopy. A sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the influence of the type of camera and 'setting'. The mean costs of an (18)FDG-PET strategy were 399 euros less than a direct laryngoscopy strategy. The type of camera and setting had no influence. In patients with suspicion for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy, (18)FDG-PET seems to be effective and less costly in selecting patients for direct laryngoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Technology Assessment, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Addy C G
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van Hooren
authors.forename: Jolijn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Bree
authors.forename: Otto S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: C René
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leemans
authors.forename: Carin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Uyl-de Groot
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000191:economics* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000191:economics*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000191:economics*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18