The economic impact of 18FDG positron emission tomography in the surgical management of colorectal cancer with hepatic metastases.

Background: F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is recognized as a powerful tool in the management of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic colorectal cancer. The aim of this was was to analyze costs from the payer's perspective, of adding FDG-PET to a computed tomography (CT) scan preoperatively in colorectal cancer patients with resectable hepatic metastases. Methods: CT with and without FDG-PET were compared among patients with colorectal cancer in staging for surgical resection of hepatic metastases. Outcomes included uncomplicated surgery, complicated surgery, or death. Extrahepatic disease occurrence rates and diagnostic accuracy of CT and FDG-PET were obtained from published sources. Complication rates and costs for CT, FDG-PET, and surgical procedures were obtained from Healthcare Finance Administration data. Results: The average expected surgical cost per patient when FDG-PET was used to determine the presence of extrahepatic disease was $16,278 compared to $21,547 for conventional management-a net savings of $5,269. Conclusions: Integration of FDG-PET into the presurgical evaluation of patients with hepatic metastases could substantially reduce overall costs and patients' morbidity. This substantial net saving results from the unique ability of FDG-PET in excluding patients with extrahepatic disease, and avoiding unnecessary surgical expenses.