Cost-effectiveness of Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in tumours other than lung cancer: A systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review published data on the cost-effectiveness of Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) or PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) in tumours other than lung cancer.


METHODS
A comprehensive literature search of studies published in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Embase databases through the 10(th) of October in 2013 was carried out. A search algorithm based on a combination of the terms: (1) "PET" or " PET/computed tomography (PET/CT)" or "positron emission tomography"; and (2) "cost-effectiveness" or "cost-utility" or "cost-efficacy" or "technology assessment" or "health technology assessment" was used. Only cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analyses in English language were included. Exclusion criteria were: (1) articles not within the field of interest of this review; (2) review articles, editorials or letters, conference proceedings; and (3) outcome evaluation studies, cost studies or health technology assessment reports. For each included study, information was collected concerning basic study, type of tumours evaluated, perspective/type of study, results, unit and comparison alternatives.


RESULTS
Sixteen studies were included. Head and neck tumours were evaluated in 4 articles, lymphoma in 4, colon-rectum tumours in 3 and breast tumours in 2. Only one article was retrieved for melanoma, oesophagus and ovary tumours. Cost-effectiveness results of FDG-PET or PET/CT ranged from dominated to dominant.


CONCLUSIONS
Literature evidence about the cost-effectiveness of FDG-PET or PET/CT in tumours other than lung cancer is still limited. Nevertheless, FDG-PET or PET/CT seems to be cost-effective in selective indications in oncology (staging and restaging of head and neck tumours, staging and treatment evaluation in lymphoma).
Salvatore Annunziata, Carmelo Caldarella, Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Annunziata
Salvatore Annunziata, Carmelo Caldarella, Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Carmelo
C
Caldarella
Salvatore Annunziata, Carmelo Caldarella, Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Treglia
Cost-effectiveness; Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose; Oncology; Positron emission tomography; Positron emission tomography /computed tomography