Cost-effectiveness analysis in radiology: methods, results and implications

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic radiological examinations as well as interventional radiological therapies are performed at a steadily increasing rate amidst increasingly limited resources in healthcare systems. Given their potential to contribute decisively to optimized therapy, in most cases associated short-term direct costs can be well justified from a clinical perspective. However, to realize their clinical benefits, they must also succeed in justifying them to payers and policymakers. Therefore, the aim of this work is to present suitable methods for economic analysis of radiological precedures and to elaborate their relevance for radiology. METHODOLOGY: Methods and metrics of cost-effectiveness analysis are presented and then exemplified using the example cases of MR mammography and interventional treatment of oligometastatic tumor disease of the liver. RESULTS: Cost-effectiveness considerations, taking into account long-term gains in lifespan and quality of life, as well as potential savings through improved treatment planning, do often objectively and credibly justify short-term additional costs. CONCLUSIONS: Cost-effectiveness analyses performed with radiological and health economic expertise can support the establishment of new radiological technologies in diagnostics and therapy. KEY POINTS: · When radiological procedures are employed, short-term costs are often offset by significant long-term benefits.. · Radiological examinations and therapies must be justified in the context of limited economic resources.. · Economic methodologies can be used to quantify the quality and cost-effectiveness of radiological methods.. · Such analyses as well as targeted training should be encouraged to provide greater transparency.. CITATION FORMAT: · Froelich MF, Kunz WG, Tollens F et al. Cost-effectiveness analysis in radiology: methods, results and implications. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2022; 194: 29 - 38.