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Cost‐effectiveness of routine computed tomography in the evaluation of idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis
Author(s) -
Hojjat Houmehr,
Svider Peter F.,
Folbe Adam J.,
Raza Syed N.,
Carron Michael A.,
Shkoukani Mahdi A.,
Merati Albert L.,
Mayerhoff Ross M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.26152
Subject(s) - medicine , univariate , paralysis , radiology , computed tomography , laryngoscopy , medical imaging , cost effectiveness , multivariate statistics , surgery , statistics , intubation , mathematics , risk analysis (engineering)
Objectives/Hypothesis To evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of routine computed tomography (CT) in individuals with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) Study Design Health Economics Decision Tree Analysis Methods A decision tree was constructed to determine the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of CT imaging in UVFP patients. Univariate sensitivity analysis was utilized to calculate what the probability of having an etiology of the paralysis discovered would have to be to make CT with contrast more cost‐effective than no imaging. We used two studies examining findings in UVFP patients. The decision pathways were utilizing CT neck with intravenous contrast after diagnostic laryngoscopy versus laryngoscopy alone. The probability of detecting an etiology for UVFP and associated costs were extracted to construct the decision tree. The only incorrect diagnosis was missing a mass in the no‐imaging decision branch, which rendered an effectiveness of 0. Results The ICER of using CT was $3,306, below most acceptable willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) thresholds. Additionally, univariate sensitivity analysis indicated that at the WTP threshold of $30,000, obtaining CT imaging was the most cost‐effective choice when the probability of having a lesion was above 1.7%. Multivariate probabilistic sensitivity analysis with Monte Carlo simulations also showed that at the WTP of $30,000, CT scanning is more cost‐effective, with 99.5% certainty. Conclusions Particularly in the current healthcare environment characterized by increasing consciousness of utilization defensive medicine, economic evaluations represent evidence‐based findings that can be employed to facilitate appropriate decision making and enhance physician‐patient communication. This economic evaluation strongly supports obtaining CT imaging in patients with newly diagnosed UVFP. Level of Evidence 2c. Laryngoscope , 2016 127:440–444, 2017