| Title: |
Cost–Benefit Analysis of in vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy for Melanoma Diagnosis in a Real-World Clinical Setting |
| Authors: |
Bruno, Giacomo; Di Matteo, Sergio; Longo, Caterina; Stanganelli, Ignazio; Farnetani, Francesca; Borsari, Stefania; Mazzoni, Laura; Ciardo, Silavana; Raucci, Margherita; Magi, Serena; Bassoli, Sara; Spadafora, Marco; Mandel, Victor; Casari, Alice; Chester, Johanna; Kaleci, Shaniko; Colombo, Giorgio; Pellacani, Giovanni |
| Contributors: |
Bruno, Giacomo; Di Matteo, Sergio; Longo, Caterina; Stanganelli, Ignazio; Farnetani, Francesca; Borsari, Stefania; Mazzoni, Laura; Ciardo, Silavana; Raucci, Margherita; Magi, Serena; Bassoli, Sara; Spadafora, Marco; Mandel, Victor; Casari, Alice; Chester, Johanna; Kaleci, Shaniko; Colombo, Giorgio; Pellacani, Giovanni |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
Archivio della ricerca dell'Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Unimore: IRIS) |
| Subject Terms: |
cost analysi; cost–benefit; dermoscopic examination; economic; melanoma; reflectance confocal microscopy; skin cancers |
| Description: |
Background: In a recent prospective, multicenter, two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), we demonstrated that adjunctive reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in routine clinical practice provides clinical benefits, including safe melanoma detection and a 43.3% reduction in the number needed to excise (NNE). Methods: A cost–benefit analysis was conducted based on NNEs for standard care (5.3) and adjunctive RCM (3.0). Cost data were supplied by one center, applying a micro-costing approach from the hospital’s perspective. Costs were calculated for dermatology exams, excisions, medications, histopathology, and follow-up. The outcomes were extrapolated to provincial and national settings to assess the economic benefits of RCM. Results: The cost per patient for standard care was €143.63, compared to €114.74 for adjunctive RCM. The cost per melanoma excised with standard care (NNE 5.3) was €904.87, almost twice the cost for RCM (€458.96). Annual regional and national costs for standard care were €864,150.85 and €11,491,849.00, respectively, while RCM reduced these to €438,306.80 and €5,828,792.00. Estimated annual savings with adjunctive RCM were €425,844.05 regionally and €5,663,057.00 nationally. The cost–benefit ratio for RCM was 3.89, meaning that for every €1 spent on RCM, there is a benefit of €3.89. Conclusion: In real-world clinical practice, adjunctive RCM offers significant economic advantages at local, regional, and national levels while maintaining patient safety and reducing unnecessary surgical procedures. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/39839194; info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:001398220300001; volume:18; firstpage:163; lastpage:172; journal:RISK MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHCARE POLICY; https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1383890 |
| DOI: |
10.2147/rmhp.s487814 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1383890; https://doi.org/10.2147/rmhp.s487814 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; license:[IR] creative-commons ; license uri:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.EABF9F68 |
| Database: |
BASE |