Abstract
Purpose
To compare the cost-effectiveness of 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) thyroid scintigraphy and the Afirma® gene expression classifier for the assessment of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules.
Methods
A decision tree model was used. Costs were calculated from the perspective of the German health insurance system. The robustness of the results was assessed with probabilistic sensitivity analyses using a Monte Carlo simulation.
Results
Life expectancy was 34.3 years (estimated costs per patient €1,459 – €2,224) for the MIBI scan and 34.1 years (estimated costs €3,560 – €4,071) for the molecular test. These results were confirmed by the Monte Carlo simulation.
Conclusion
MIBI thyroid scintigraphy is more cost-effective than the gene expression classifier.
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Heinzel, A., Müller, D., Behrendt, F.F. et al. Thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology: molecular imaging with 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) is more cost-effective than the Afirma® gene expression classifier. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 41, 1497–1500 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-014-2760-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-014-2760-4