Healthcare Costs and Carbon Emissions of Stage III Melanoma Surveillance Imaging.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of this study was to estimate the health system cost and carbon emissions of diagnostic imaging tests undertaken by patients on different surveillance schedules for follow-up of stage III melanoma. We also aimed to demonstrate how different monetary valuations of carbon emissions affect overall cost.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of administrative data from the Melanoma Institute Australia's Melanoma Research Database for patients diagnosed with stage III melanoma between 2000 and 2014 and followed them until 2023. Imaging tests (computed tomography [CT], positron emission tomography [PET], PET-CT, ultrasound, X-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) undertaken during follow-up were described. Healthcare costs were estimated per patient

SUBMITTER: Williams JTW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12790521 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature