Postsurgical surveillance of colon cancer: preliminary cost analysis of physician examination, carcinoembryonic antigen testing, chest x-ray, and colonoscopy.

• Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study is the first to examine the relative and absolute costs of physician examination, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assessment, chest x-ray, and colonoscopy in detecting recurrent disease in patients who have undergone surgical resection for primary colon carcinoma. METHODS: Of the 1356 Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group patients in Intergroup Protocol 0089 who underwent surgical resection for Dukes' B2 and C colon carcinoma, 421 patients who developed recurrent disease were reviewed. Follow-up testing was performed according to protocol guidelines, with the cost of each test equal to 1995 Medicare reimbursement. Follow-up was defined as the time to recurrence for the 421 patients in whom disease recurred (mean 18.6 months) or up to 5 years for the additional 930 patients in whom disease did not recur (mean 38.6 months). Patients were divided into three categories: nonrecurrent, recurrent but not resectable, and recurrent but resectable with curative intent. The estimated mean cost of each test in detecting group 3 (recurrent but resectable) patients was calculated. RESULTS: Of the 421 patients who developed recurrent disease, 96 underwent surgical resection of their disease with curative intent (group 3). For group 3 patients, the first indication of recurrent disease was CEA testing (30), chest x-ray (12), colonoscopy (14), and other (40). Of the 40 "other" patients, 24 presented with symptoms. Routine physician examination, however, failed to identify a single resectable recurrence, and the total cost for physician examination was $418,615. The detection rate for CEA testing was 2.2%, the total cost was $170,880, and the cost per recurrence was $5,696. The detection rate for chest x-ray was 0.9%, the total cost was $120,934, and the cost per recurrence was $10,078. The detection rate of colonoscopy was 1%, the total cost was $641,344, and the cost per recurrence was $45,810. CONCLUSIONS: CEA measurement was the most cost-effective test in detecting potentially curable recurrent disease. Physician visits were useful only in the evaluation of symptoms; a routine physician examination had no added benefit.
• Authors: R A Graham, S Wang, P J Catalano, D G Haller (Affiliation: Department of Surgery, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.)
• Journal: Annals of surgery (Ann Surg) Vol. 228 Issue 1 Pg. 59-63 (Jul 1998) ISSN: 0003-4932 [Print] UNITED STATES
• PMID: 9671067 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Carcinoembryonic Antigen (analysis)
• Carcinoma (diagnosis, drug therapy, secondary, surgery)
• Colonic Neoplasms (diagnosis, drug therapy, economics, pathology, surgery)
• Colonoscopy (economics)
• Continuity of Patient Care (economics)
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Guideline Adherence
• Health Care Costs (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (diagnosis)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Neoplasms, Second Primary (diagnosis)
• Physical Examination (economics)
• Postoperative Care
• Postoperative Period
• Radiography, Thoracic (economics)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Retrospective Studies
• United States