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PET–CT in oncological patients: analysis of informal care costs in cost–benefit assessment

La radiologia medica volume 119, pages 283–289 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The authors analysed the impact of nonmedical costs (travel, loss of productivity) in an economic analysis of PET–CT (positron-emission tomography–computed tomography) performed with standard contrast-enhanced CT protocols (CECT).

Materials and methods

From October to November 2009, a total of 100 patients referred to our institute were administered a questionnaire to evaluate the nonmedical costs of PET–CT. In addition, the medical costs (equipment maintenance and depreciation, consumables and staff) related to PET–CT performed with CECT and PET–CT with low-dose nonenhanced CT and separate CECT were also estimated.

Results

The medical costs were 919.3 euro for PET–CT with separate CECT, and 801.3 euro for PET–CT with CECT. Therefore, savings of approximately 13 % are possible. Moreover, savings in nonmedical costs can be achieved by reducing the number of hospital visits required by patients undergoing diagnostic imaging.

Conclusions

Nonmedical costs heavily affect patients’ finances as well as having an indirect impact on national health expenditure. Our results show that PET–CT performed with standard dose CECT in a single session provides benefits in terms of both medical and nonmedical costs.

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Conflict of interest

Antonio Orlacchio, Anna Micaela Ciarrapico, Orazio Schillaci, Fabrizio Chegai, Daniela Tosti, Fabrizio D’Alba, Manlio Guazzaroni, Giovanni Simonetti declare no conflict of interest

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Therapy, University Hospital “Tor Vergata”, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Antonio Orlacchio, Orazio Schillaci, Fabrizio Chegai, Daniela Tosti, Manlio Guazzaroni & Giovanni Simonetti

  2. Department of Public Health, “Tor Vergata” University, Rome, Italy

    Anna Micaela Ciarrapico

  3. Unit of Innovation, Development, Strategic Planning and Management Control, University Hospital “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Fabrizio D’Alba

Authors
  1. Antonio Orlacchio
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  2. Anna Micaela Ciarrapico
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  3. Orazio Schillaci
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  4. Fabrizio Chegai
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  5. Daniela Tosti
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  6. Fabrizio D’Alba
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  7. Manlio Guazzaroni
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  8. Giovanni Simonetti
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Correspondence to Antonio Orlacchio.

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Orlacchio, A., Ciarrapico, A.M., Schillaci, O. et al. PET–CT in oncological patients: analysis of informal care costs in cost–benefit assessment. Radiol med 119, 283–289 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-013-0340-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-013-0340-5

Keywords

  • Computed tomography
  • Positron-emission tomography
  • Cost–benefit analysis
  • PET–CT
  • Image fusion