Rodney V. Pozderac

Cost-effectiveness of sentinel lymph node biopsy in thin melanomas.

BACKGROUND Consideration of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is recommended for thin melanomas with poor prognostic features; however, few metastases are identified. The purpose of this study was to assess the cost effectiveness of SLNB in this population. METHODS The prospective melanoma database was reviewed to identify patients with melanomas <1.2 mm thick who had undergone SLNB. Physician and hospital charges were collected from the appropriate billing department. RESULTS A total of 138 patients were identified over an 8-year period (1994-2002). Two patients with positive SLNs were identified (1.4%), one with a melanoma <1 mm thick. Patient charges for SLNB ranged from

In vivo imaging and radioiodine therapy following sodium iodide symporter gene transfer in animal model of intracerebral gliomas

10,096 to

Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Intradermal, Intraparenchymal, and Subareolar Injection Routes for Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy in Breast Cancer

15,223 US dollars, compared with

Somatostatin receptor imaging of neuroendocrine tumors with indium-111 pentetreotide (Octreoscan)

1000 to

Exercise-induced QRS prolongation in patients with coronary artery disease: A marker of myocardial ischemia

1740 US dollars for wide excision as an outpatient. Using these charges, the cost to identify a single positive SLN would be between

Indium-111-pentetreotide scanning versus conventional imaging techniques for the localization of gastrinoma

696,600 and

Decreased Platelet Adherence of Polymer-coated Tantalum Stents☆

1,051,100 US dollars. The cost for wide excision would be between

Award winner of the resident essay contest, Ohio Chapter, American College of Surgeons Utility of lymphoscintigraphy for lymphatic mapping in breast cancer: A prospective study

69,000 and

In vivo expression and function of the sodium iodide symporter following gene transfer in the MATLyLu rat model of metastatic prostate cancer.

120,100 US dollars. Assuming that all patients with a positive SLN would die of melanoma, the cost per life saved would be

Localization of Neuroendocrine Tumors Using Somatostatin Receptor Imaging With Indium-111-Pentetreotide (OctreoScan).

627,000 to