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COST CONSEQUENCES OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY IN THE TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER

A Preliminary Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2002

Thomas N. Chirikos ,
Claudia G. Berman ,
Stephen L. Luther  and
Robert A. Clark
Thomas N. Chirikos
Affiliation:
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Claudia G. Berman
Affiliation:
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Stephen L. Luther
Affiliation:
Center for Health Outcomes Research, University of South Florida
Robert A. Clark
Affiliation:
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
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Abstract

Objectives: To assess whether sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), an alternative to axillary lymph node dissection in treating female breast cancer, affords any cost savings.

Methods: We profile cumulative treatment costs of 811 breast cancer patients, 555 of whom received SLNB. Univariate and multivariate statistical tests are used to appraise whether these cost profiles differ between SLNB and other patients.

Results: The statistical results are mixed. However, none supports the conjecture that SLNB necessarily lowers the cost of treating the average breast patient.

Conclusions: SLNB may be cost-effective, but longer term costs and outcomes must be estimated before firm conclusions can be reached.

Keywords

Breast cancerSentinel lymph node biopsyLymphatic mappingHealthcare costsCost-effectiveness analyses
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , October 2001 , pp. 626 - 631
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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