Should We Use Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) for the Characterization of Nonpalpable Testicular Lesions? An Analysis from a Cost-Effectiveness Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (06) ◽  
pp. 668-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Rübenthaler ◽  
Su Hwan Kim ◽  
Wolfgang G. Kunz ◽  
Wieland H. Sommer ◽  
Matthias Trottmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Testicular Lesions ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Purpose Accurate characterization of testicular lesions is crucial to allow for correct treatment of malignant tumors and to avoid unnecessary procedures in benign ones. In recent years, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) proved to be superior in specifying the dignity of small, nonpalpable testicular lesions (< 1.5 cm) compared to native B-mode and color Doppler ultrasound which were previously regarded as the primary imaging method. However, the cost-effectiveness of CEUS has not been evaluated yet. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of CEUS as compared to unenhanced ultrasound for the characterization of nonpalpable testicular lesions. Methods A decision model based on Markov simulations estimated lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with unenhanced ultrasound and CEUS. Model input parameters were obtained from recent literature. Deterministic sensitivity analysis of diagnostic parameters and costs was performed. Also, probabilistic sensitivity analysis using Monte-Carlo Modelling was applied. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) was set to $100 000/QALY. Results In the base-case scenario, unenhanced ultrasound resulted in total costs of $5113.14 and an expected effectiveness of 8.29 QALYs, whereas CEUS resulted in total costs of $4397.77 with 8.35 QALYs. Therefore, the unenhanced ultrasound strategy was dominated by CEUS in the base-case scenario. Sensitivity analysis showed CEUS to be the cost-effective alternative along a broad range of costs. Conclusion Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a cost-effective imaging method for the characterization of nonpalpable testicular lesions.

Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound as Diagnostic Options for Unclear Cystic Renal Lesions: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Gassert ◽  
Moritz Schnitzer ◽  
Su Hwan Kim ◽  
Wolfgang G. Kunz ◽  
Benjamin Philipp Ernst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Renal Lesions ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Life Years ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cystic Renal Lesions

Abstract Purpose Correct differentiation between malignant and benign incidentally found cystic renal lesions has critical implications for patient management. In several studies contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) showed higher sensitivity with respect to the accurate characterization of these lesions compared to MRI, but the cost-effectiveness of CEUS has yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of CEUS as an alternative imaging method to MRI for the characterization of incidentally found cystic renal lesions. Materials and Methods A decision model including the diagnostic modalities MRI and CEUS was created based on Markov simulations estimating lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The recent literature was reviewed to obtain model input parameters. The deterministic sensitivity of diagnostic parameters and costs was determined and probabilistic sensitivity analysis using Monte-Carlo Modelling was applied. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) was assumed to be $ 100 000/QALY. Results In the base-case scenario, the total costs for CEUS were $9654.43, whereas the total costs for MRI were $9675.03. CEUS resulted in an expected effectiveness of 8.06 QALYs versus 8.06 QALYs for MRI. Therefore, from an economic point of view, CEUS was identified as an adequate diagnostic alternative to MRI. Sensitivity analysis showed that results may vary if CEUS costs increase or those of MRI decrease. Conclusion Based on the results of the analysis, the use of CEUS was identified as a cost-effective diagnostic strategy for the characterization of incidentally found cystic renal lesions.

scholarly journals Sustained acoustic medicine as a non-surgical and non-opioid knee osteoarthritis treatment option: a health economic cost-effectiveness analysis for symptom management

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Best ◽  
Stephanie Petterson ◽  
Kevin Plancher
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Incremental Cost ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Treatment Pathways ◽  
Knee Oa ◽  
Cost Effective Treatment ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Background Patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) and presenting with symptoms are seeking conservative treatment options to reduce pain, improve function, and avoid surgery. Sustained acoustic medicine (SAM), a multi-hour treatment has demonstrated improved clinical outcomes for patients with knee OA. The purpose of this analysis was to compare the costs and effectiveness of multi-hour SAM treatment versus the standard of care (SOC) over a 6-month timeframe for OA symptom management. Methods A decision tree analysis was used to compare the costs and effectiveness of SAM treatment versus SOC in patients with OA. Probabilities of success for OA treatment and effectiveness were derived from the literature using systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Costs were derived from Medicare payment rates and manufacturer prices. Functional effectiveness was measured as the effect size of a therapy and treatment pathways compared to a SOC treatment pathway. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine which cost variables had the greatest effect on deciding which option was the least costly. An incremental cost-effectiveness plot comparing SAM treatment vs. SOC was also generated using 1000 iterations of the model. Lastly, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated as the (cost of SAM minus cost of SOC) divided by (functional effectiveness of SAM minus functional effectiveness of SOC). Results Base case demonstrated that over 6 months, the cost and functional effectiveness of SAM was $8641 and 0.52 versus SOC at: $6281 and 0.39, respectively. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that in order for SAM to be the less expensive option, the cost per 15-min session of PT would need to be greater than $88, or SAM would need to be priced at less than or equal to $2276. Incremental cost-effectiveness demonstrated that most of the time (84%) SAM treatment resulted in improved functional effectiveness but at a higher cost than SOC. Conclusion In patients with osteoarthritis, SAM treatment demonstrated improved pain and functional gains compared to SOC but at an increased cost. Based on the SAM treatment ICER score being ≤ $50,000, it appears that SAM is a cost-effective treatment for knee OA.

Cost-effectiveness of routine laparoscopic ultrasound for the assessment of resectability of gallbladder cancer.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 272-272
Author(s):  
Thejus T. Jayakrishnan ◽  
Hasan Nadeem ◽  
Ryan Thomas Groeschl ◽  
Anthony J Zacharias ◽  
T. Clark Gamblin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Diagnostic Laparoscopy ◽  
Hepatic Metastases ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Laparoscopic Ultrasound ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Base Case Scenario ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Quality Adjusted Life

272 Background: In addition to a diagnostic laparoscopy (DL), aroutine laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) has been proposed to identify undetected hepatic metastases and/or anatomically advanced disease in patients with T2 or higher gall bladder cancer (GBC) planned for surgical resection. It was hypothesized that a routine LUS is not a cost-effective strategy for these patients. Methods: Decision tree modeling was undertaken to compare DL-LUS vs. DL at the time of definitive resection of GBC (with no prior cholecystectomy). Costs in US dollars (payers’ perspective), quality-adjusted-life-weeks (QALWs) and incremental-cost-effectiveness-ratios (ICER) were calculated (horizon: 6 weeks, willingness-to-pay: $1,000/QALW or $50,000/ QALY). Results: DL-LUS was cost effective at the base case scenario (costs: $30,838 for DL vs. $30,791 for DL-LUS and effectiveness 3.81 QALWs DL vs. 3.82 QALW DL-LUS, resulting in a cost reduction of $9,220 per quality adjusted life week gained (or $479,469 per QALY). DL-LUS became less cost effective as the cost of ultrasound increased (threshold: $163.18) or the probability of exclusion from resection decreased (threshold 0.29) (Table represents the results of univariate analyses). Conclusions: Routine LUS with diagnostic laparoscopy for the assessment of resectability and exclusion of metastases is cost effective for patients with GBC. Until improvements in pre-operative imaging occur to decrease the probability of exclusion, this appears to be a feasible strategy. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Vitamin K Antagonists for Venous Thromboembolism in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke-Xin Sun ◽  
Bin Cui ◽  
Shan-Shan Cao ◽  
Qi-Xiang Huang ◽  
Ru-Yi Xia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Markov Model ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Effectiveness Analysis ◽  
The Cost

Background: The drug therapy of venous thromboembolism (VTE) presents a significant economic burden to the health-care system in low- and middle-income countries. To understand which anticoagulation therapy is most cost-effective for clinical decision-making , the cost-effectiveness of apixaban (API) versus rivaroxaban (RIV), dabigatran (DAB), and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), followed by vitamin K antagonist (VKA), in the treatment of VTE in China was assessed.Methods: To access the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), a long-term cost-effectiveness analysis was constructed using a Markov model with 5 health states. The Markov model was developed using patient data collected from the Xijing Hospital from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2021. The time horizon was set at 30 years, and a 6-month cycle length was used in the model. Costs and ICERs were reported in 2020 U.S. dollars. One-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) were used to test the uncertainties. A Chinese health-care system perspective was used.Results: In the base case, the data of 231 VTE patients were calculated in the base case analysis retrospectively. The RIV group resulted in a mean VTE attributable to 95% effective treatment. API, DAB, and VKA have a negative ICER (−187017.543, −284,674.922, and −9,283.339, respectively) and were absolutely dominated. The Markov model results confirmed this observation. The ICER of the API and RIV was negative (−216176.977), which belongs to the absolute inferiority scheme, and the ICER value of the DAB and VKA versus RIV was positive (110,577.872 and 836,846.343). Since the ICER of DAB and VKA exceeds the threshold, RIV therapy was likely to be the best choice for the treatment of VTE within the acceptable threshold range. The results of the sensitivity analysis revealed that the model output varied mostly with the cost in the DAB on-treatment therapy. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis of 1,000 patients for 30 years, RIV has 100% probability of being cost-effective compared with other regimens when the WTP is $10973 per QALY. When WTP exceeded $148,000, DAB was more cost-effective than RIV.Conclusions: Compared with LMWH + VKA and API, the results proved that RIV may be the most cost-effective treatment for VTE patients in China. Our findings could be helpful for physicians in clinical decision-making to select the appropriate treatment option for VTE.

scholarly journals The hemodialysis prescription and cost effectiveness. Renal Physicians Association Working Committee on Clinical Guidelines.

1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1021-1027
Author(s):  
J C Hornberger
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Quality Adjusted Life Year ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Uremic Toxin ◽  
Intradialytic Hypotension ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Base Case Scenario ◽  
The Cost

Case-mix adjusted mortality rates for patients undergoing hemodialysis for ESRD increased during the 1980s, despite the introduction of advanced dialysis technologies. Variations in dialysis practices suggest that excess mortality may be caused by inadequate uremic-toxin clearances. Cost-effectiveness analysis was used to assess whether attempts to improve uremic-toxin clearance are cost effective, assuming that these therapies are clinically effective. The medical literature was surveyed by the use of MEDLINE to assess the likelihood of clinical outcomes on the basis of the type of treatment given to the patient. Options considered in the model were delivered fractional urea clearance (Kt/V), dialysis-treatment duration, type of dialyzer membrane, dialysate, and ultrafiltration. Clinical outcomes included in the model were survival, severity of uremic symptoms, hospital days per year, and intradialytic hypotension and symptoms. Lifetime costs were calculated from data collected from a northern California dialysis center and abstracted from the literature. In the base-case scenario, it was assumed that increasing Kt/V to levels greater than 1 was effective in reducing morbidity and mortality. Under these assumptions, outpatient cost increased significantly, but the cost effectiveness of Kt/V equal to 1.5 was less than $50,000 per quality-adjusted life-year saved. These calculations indicate that, if higher levels of Kt/V prove clinically effective, they are also cost effective.

scholarly journals Characterization of Focal Liver Lesions using Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound as a First Line Method: a Large Monocentric Experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioan Sporea ◽  
Alina Martie ◽  
Simona Bota ◽  
Roxana Sirli ◽  
Alina Popescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focal Liver Lesions ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Liver Lesions ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
First Line ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Line Imaging ◽  
Conclusive Diagnosis

Aim: To present a large monocentric experience in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLLs) using Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS).Method: A retrospective study was performed in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Timisoara, including 1100 patients with 1329 FLLs evaluated between September 2009 and January 2013. A CEUS examination was considered conclusive if the FLL respected the typical enhancement pattern as described in the EFSUMB Guidelines.Results: From the 1329 FLLs, CEUS was conclusive for a specific pathology in 1102 cases (82.9%). For the differentiation of benign/malignant lesions, CEUS reached a conclusive diagnosis in 1196 (90%) cases. The percentage of conclusive CEUS examinations was significantly higher in patients without chronic liver disease as compared with those with chronic hepatopathies: 87.3% vs. 74.4% (p<0.0001).Conclusion: CEUS patterns of enhancement fell into clear cut specific diagnostic patterns in 83% of the FLLs discovered by US, and into clear cut benign versus malignant patterns in 90% of the cases. For this reason, we can strongly recommend CEUS as a first line imaging method to characterize FLLs found at US, at least in centers with a good experience in CEUS.

scholarly journals Cost-effectiveness of docetaxel in high-volume hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn Beca ◽  
Habeeb Majeed ◽  
Kelvin K.W. Chan ◽  
Sebastian J. Hotte ◽  
Andrew Loblaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Survival Data ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Hormone Sensitive ◽  
The Cost

Introduction: Three pivotal trials have considered the addition of docetaxel (D) chemotherapy to conventional androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC). While an initial small trial was inconclusive, two larger trials demonstrated significant clinical benefit, including pronounced survival benefits (added 17 months) among patients with high-volume metastatic disease. Given the evolving clinical evidence, the cost-effectiveness of this approach warrants exploration. Methods: The cost-effectiveness of six cycles of ADT+D compared to ADT alone to treat patients with high-volume metastatic HSPC was assessed from a Canadian public payer perspective. We included three health states: HSPC, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), and death. Survival data were obtained from the CHAARTED trial, which reported outcomes specifically for high-volume disease. We used Ontario costs data and utilities from the literature. Results: In the base case analysis, ADT+D cost an additional $25 757 and produced an extra 1.06 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $24 226/QALY gained. Results from one-way sensitivity analysis across wide ranges of estimates and a range of scenarios, including an alternate model structure, produced ICERs below $35 000/QALY gained in all cases. Conclusions: The use of D with ADT in high-volume metastatic HSPC appears to be an economically attractive treatment approach. The findings were consistent with other studies and robust in sensitivity analysis across a variety of scenarios.

scholarly journals Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Dental Sealants versus Fluoride Varnish in a School-Based Setting

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 78-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Neidell ◽  
Barbara Shearer ◽  
Ira B. Lamster
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Fluoride Varnish ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Base Case Scenario ◽  
School Based ◽  
Occlusal Surfaces ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
The Cost

While sealants are more effective than fluoride varnish in reducing the development of new carious lesions on occlusal surfaces, and a course of treatment requires fewer clinical visits, they are more expensive per application. This analysis assessed which treatment is more cost-effective. We estimate the costs of sealants and fluoride varnish over a 4-year period in a school-based setting, and compare this to existing estimates of the relative benefits in terms of caries reduction to calculate the relative cost-effectiveness of these two preventive treatments. In our base case scenario, varnish is more cost-effective in preventing caries. Allowing for caries benefits to nonocclusal surfaces further improves the cost-effectiveness of varnish. Although we found that varnish is more cost-effective, the results are context specific. Sealants become equally cost-effective if a dental hygienist applies the sealants instead of a dentist, while varnish becomes increasingly cost-effective when making comparisons outside of a traditional dental clinic setting.

scholarly journals Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Fecal Transplant Delivery Methods for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infections in Outpatients

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S386-S386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremey Walker ◽  
Nathan Gundacker ◽  
Martin Rodriguez ◽  
Ellen Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Delivery Methods ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cure Rates

Abstract Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) accounts for more than $1 billion annually in US health care costs. Recurrent CDI (RCDI, recurrence within 8 weeks of initial treatment) contributes substantially to this cost. The objective of the study was to compare the cost effectiveness of FMT delivered via colonoscopy vs. blind nasogastric tube (NGT) in outpatients. We hypothesized that FMT by NGT would be cost-effective given its low risk and simplicity. Methods A decision-analytic simulation model compared the cost effectiveness of FMT by colonoscopy vs. NGT from a third-party payer perspective. Our base case cure rates were derived from a cohort receiving outpatient RCDI treatment at our institution. Cure was defined as resolution of symptoms for ≥ 90 days. Procedural cost and consultation was defined by average reimbursement to a large southeastern medical center in 2016 USD based on current procedural terminology (CPT) codes, and cost of disease states were derived from published literature. Health utilities were defined by quality of life year (QALY) based on published literature. Incremental Cost Effectiveness ratio (ICER) was defined as the cost per additional QALY gained. We assumed a 90 day time horizon. One-way sensitivity analysis was performed on all variables using ranges defined by published literature. We used TreeAge Software (Williamstown, MA). Results In the base case, FMT by colonoscopy was dominant (more effective and less costly) than NGT, with cost of $1,568/QALY vs. $1,910/QALY respectively. Cure rates of FMT by colonoscopy vs. NGT (100% vs. 87%) had the largest impact on ICER based on one-way sensitivity analysis. Therefore, a subsequent two-way sensitivity analysis was conducted to compare cure rates of both delivery methods and found that NGT delivery is cost effective as cure rates approach colonoscopy delivery cure rates within 5 percentage points. Conclusion Contrary to our hypothesis, our decision model supports FMT by colonoscopy as the preferred delivery method in outpatients with RCDI relative to NGT delivery. Additional costs of colonoscopy delivery are off-set by the improved cure rate leading to lower overall costs. As cure rates from NGT delivery are optimized, NGT may become the preferred method for FMT delivery. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Cost-effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence for Proximal Caries Detection

2020 ◽  
pp. 002203452097233
Author(s):  
F. Schwendicke ◽  
J.G. Rossi ◽  
G. Göstemeyer ◽  
K. Elhennawy ◽  
A.G. Cantu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Caries Detection ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Proximal Caries ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Tooth Retention

Artificial intelligence (AI) can assist dentists in image assessment, for example, caries detection. The wider health and cost impact of employing AI for dental diagnostics has not yet been evaluated. We compared the cost-effectiveness of proximal caries detection on bitewing radiographs with versus without AI. U-Net, a fully convolutional neural network, had been trained, validated, and tested on 3,293, 252, and 141 bitewing radiographs, respectively, on which 4 experienced dentists had marked carious lesions (reference test). Lesions were stratified for initial lesions (E1/E2/D1, presumed noncavitated, receiving caries infiltration if detected) and advanced lesions (D2/D3, presumed cavitated, receiving restorative care if detected). A Markov model was used to simulate the consequences of true- and false-positive and true- and false-negative detections, as well as the subsequent decisions over the lifetime of patients. A German mixed-payers perspective was adopted. Our health outcome was tooth retention years. Costs were measured in 2020 euro. Monte-Carlo microsimulations and univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and the cost-effectiveness acceptability at different willingness-to-pay thresholds were quantified. AI showed an accuracy of 0.80; dentists’ mean accuracy was significantly lower at 0.71 (minimum–maximum: 0.61–0.78, P < 0.05). AI was significantly more sensitive than dentists (0.75 vs. 0.36 [0.19–0.65]; P = 0.006), while its specificity was not significantly lower (0.83 vs. 0.91 [0.69–0.98]; P > 0.05). In the base-case scenario, AI was more effective (tooth retention for a mean 64 [2.5%–97.5%: 61–65] y) and less costly (298 [244–367] euro) than assessment without AI (62 [59–64] y; 322 [257–394] euro). The ICER was −13.9 euro/y (i.e., AI saved money at higher effectiveness). In the majority (>77%) of all cases, AI was less costly and more effective. Applying AI for caries detection is likely to be cost-effective, mainly as fewer lesions remain undetected. Notably, this cost-effectiveness requires dentists to manage detected early lesions nonrestoratively.

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