Cost-effectiveness of computerized tomographic colonography versus colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Computerized tomographic (CT) colonography is a potential alternative to colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. Its main advantage, a better safety profile, may be offset by its limitations: lower sensitivity, need for colonoscopy in cases where results are positive, and expense.

Methods

We performed an economic evaluation, using decision analysis, to compare CT colonography with colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening in patients over 50 years of age. Three-year outcomes included number of colonoscopies, perforations and adenomas removed; deaths from perforation and from colorectal cancer from missed adenomas; and direct health care costs. The expected prevalence of adenomas, test performance characteristics of CT colonography and colonoscopy, and proba

SUBMITTER: Heitman SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1247700 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature