High-Suspicion Subcentimeter Thyroid Nodules: Cost Effectiveness of Active Surveillance versus Fine Needle Aspiration.

PURPOSE: To compare the cost-benefit of active surveillance (AS) against immediate fine needle aspiration (FNA) of sonographically suspicious subcentimeter thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Markov model was constructed to compare the cost-benefit of 3 strategies from the point of discovery until death: (a) Surveillance of all nodules, (b) Surveillance of nodules with positive cytology, and (c) Surgery of nodules with positive cytology. The reference case was a 40-year-old woman with a sonographically suspicious subcentimeter thyroid nodule. Transition probabilities, costs, and health state utilities were derived from the literature. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate model uncertainty. Willingness-to-pay threshold was set at $100,000/quality-adjusted life year. RESULTS: Surveillance of nodules with positive cytology dominated in the reference scenario and was cost-beneficial over Surveillance of all nodules, independent of the utility of AS. Surveillance of all nodules was cost-beneficial only at a life expectancy of <2.6 years or surveillance duration of <4 years. CONCLUSIONS: While current guidelines recommend AS of sonographically suspicious subcentimeter nodules, the results of this study suggest that immediate FNA (Surveillance of nodules with positive cytology) is more cost-beneficial than AS (Surveillance of all nodules). Patients with positive cytology on FNA may subsequently opt for AS (Surveillance of nodules with positive cytology) or surgery (Surgery of nodules with positive cytology) according to their level of comfort (ie, utility) with AS.

Cost-Effectiveness of Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty Compared With Conventional Balloon Angioplasty for Arteriovenous Access Flow Dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty compared with conventional balloon angioplasty (cPTA) in patients with arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) dysfunction from a Singapore healthcare perspective. METHODS: Existing cost-effectiveness studies comparing DCB and cPTA have not incorporated AVF/AVG abandonment costs. This Markov model-based economic evaluation incorporated AVF/AVG creation and maturation costs on top of routine intervention costs to model a hypothetical cohort of 60-year-old AVF/AVG flow dysfunction patients. Effectiveness was measured in quality-adjusted life-years. Cost-effectiveness was assessed using incremental net monetary benefit (NMB) at a Singapore willingness-to-pay threshold of Singapore dollar (S$)87 000. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to examine parameter uncertainty. To test hypotheses regarding cost-effectiveness, intervention counts per patient, cumulative incidence functions of AVF/AVG abandonment, and survival curves of death were compared between DCB and cPTA. RESULTS: DCB was not cost-effective at 3-year horizon (NMB = -S$1424), but was cost-effective at 1- and 6-year horizons (NMB = S$356 and S$3738, respectively). At 3 years, there was a 34.5% probability of DCB being cost-effective, but at 1- and 6-year horizons there was, respectively, 58.6% and 59.9% probability of DCB being cost-effective. DCB had graphically less AVF/AVG-abandonments, but this was not statistically significant (P = .21). Differences in other parameters were neither graphically nor statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: With AVF/AVG abandonment considered, DCB may be weakly cost-effective compared with cPTA in treating AVF/AVG flow dysfunction. AV access creation and maturation costs could have important explanatory value in assessing DCB cost-effectiveness.

Cost-Effectiveness of Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty Versus Conventional Balloon Angioplasty for Treating Below-the-Knee Arteries in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: The SINGA-PACLI Trial.

PURPOSE: Drug-coated balloon angioplasty (DCBA) has been studied as a potentially superior option compared to conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in treating below-the-knee (BTK) arteries in chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). The aim of this study is to examine the cost-effectiveness of DCBA versus PTA in BTK arteries based on a randomized controlled trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective economic study was embedded in a randomized controlled trial of 138 patients with CLTI. Resource use and health outcomes were assessed at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 12 months post-intervention. Costs were calculated from a societal perspective and health outcomes measured using quality-adjusted life years with probabilistic sensitivity analysis performed to account for subject heterogeneity. RESULTS: Compared with participants randomized to receive PTA, participants randomized to DCBA gained an average baseline-adjusted quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of .012 while average total costs were USD$1854 higher; this translates to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of US$154,500 additional cost per QALY gained. However, the estimate of ICER had substantial variance with only 48% of bootstrap ICERs meeting a benchmark threshold of US$57,705 (the average gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of Singapore). CONCLUSION: The use of DCBA in BTK arteries in CLTI patients was not cost-effective compared with PTA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2, Randomized trial.

Responsive Web-based Breast Imaging Core Curriculum for International Radiology Residents with Self-Assessment: A Pilot Study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Lack of uniformity in radiology resident education is partially attributable to variable access to subspecialty education. Web-based courses improve standardization, but with growing emphasis on competency based education, more evaluation of their effectiveness is needed. We created a responsive web-based breast imaging curriculum for radiology residents including self-assessment and a satisfaction survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two global academic institutions collaboratively developed a breast imaging curriculum to address radiology residents' educational needs. This virtual course comprised 11 video lectures, nine didactic (with attached pre-test and post-test assessments) and two case review sessions. In April 2020, this optional curriculum was made available to all 56 radiology residents in one residency program cluster in Singapore, to be accessed alongside the breast imaging rotation as a supplement. A voluntary anonymous satisfaction survey was provided upon completion. RESULTS: A total of 39 of the 56 radiology residents (70%) completed the course. For the average score of nine lectures (maximum score 5), there was a significant increase in mean pre and post - test scores (mean = 2.2, SD = 0.7), p < 0.001. The proportion of residents with improvement between the pre-test score and the post-test score ranged from 74% to 100% (mean, 84%). Thirty three of the 39 participants (85%) completed the satisfaction survey, and all agreed or strongly agreed that the curriculum increased their knowledge of breast imaging. CONCLUSION: This web based breast imaging curriculum supplement was viewed positively by participating residents and improved their self-assessed knowledge. Curriculum access could be expanded to improve global radiology education.

Optimizing integrated imaging service delivery by tier in low-resource health systems.

Access to imaging diagnostics has been shown to result in accurate treatment, management, and optimal outcomes. Particularly in low-income and low-middle-income countries (LICs, LMICs), access is limited due to a lack of adequate resources. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, access to imaging services is critical at every tier of the health system. Optimizing imaging services in low-resource settings is best accomplished by prescriptive, integrated, and coordinated tiered service delivery that takes contextual factors into consideration. To our knowledge, this is the first recommendation for optimized, specific imaging care delivery by tier. A model for tier-based essential imaging services informs and guides policymakers as they set priorities and make budgetary decisions. In this paper, we recommend a framework for tiered imaging services essential to reduce the global burden of disease and attain universal health coverage (UHC). A lack of access to basic imaging services, even at the lowest tier of the health system, can no longer be justified by cost. Worldwide, affordable modalities of modern ultrasound and X-ray are becoming an accessible mainstay for the investigation of common conditions such as pregnancy, pneumonia, and fractures, and are safely performed and interpreted by qualified professionals. Finally, given the vast gap in access to imaging resources between LMICs and high-income countries (HICs), a scale-up of tiered imaging services in low-resource settings has the potential to reduce health disparities between, and within countries. As the access to appropriately integrated imaging services improves, UHC may be achieved.

A survey of anxiety and burnout in the radiology workforce of a tertiary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to study anxiety and burnout among Division of Radiological Sciences (RADSC) staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify potential risk and protective factors. These outcomes were compared with non-RADSC staff. METHODS: A cross-sectional online study was conducted between 12 March and 20 July 2020 in the largest public tertiary hospital receiving COVID-19 cases. Burnout and anxiety were assessed with the Physician Work-Life Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale, respectively. Workplace factors were examined as potential risk and protective factors using multivariable ordinary least squares regression analyses, adjusting for pertinent demographic characteristics. RESULTS: RADSC staff (n = 180) and non-RADSC staff (n = 1458) demonstrated moderate-to-severe anxiety rates of 6.7 and 13.2 % and burnout rates of 17.8 and 23.9 %, respectively. RADSC staff reported significantly lower anxiety (mean ± SD: 4.0 ± 3.7 vs 4.9 ± 4.5; P-value < 0.05), burnout (mean ± SD: 1.9 ± 0.7 vs 2.1 ± 0.8; P-value < 0.01), increased teamwork (82.2% vs 74.1%; P-value < 0.05) and fewer night shifts (36.7% vs 41.1%; P-value < 0.01). Among RADSC staff, higher job dedication was associated with lower anxiety (b (95% CI) = -0.28 (-0.45, -0.11)) and burnout (b (95% CI) = -0.07 (-0.11,-0.04)), while longer than usual working hours was associated with increased anxiety (b (95% CI) = 1.42 (0.36, 2.45)) and burnout (b (95% CI) = 0.28 (0.09, 0.48)). CONCLUSIONS: A proportion of RADSC staff reported significant burnout and anxiety, although less compared to the larger hospital cohort. Measures to prevent longer than usual work hours and increase feelings of enthusiasm and pride in one's job may further reduce the prevalence of anxiety problems and burnout in radiology departments.

Utility of incorporating next-generation sequencing (NGS) in an Asian non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) population: Incremental yield of actionable alterations and cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVES: There is an expanding list of therapeutically relevant biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and molecular profiling at diagnosis is paramount. Tissue attrition in scaling traditional single biomarker assays from small biopsies is an increasingly encountered problem. We sought to compare the performance of targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels with traditional assays and correlate the mutational landscape with PD-L1 status in Singaporean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified consecutive patients diagnosed between Jan 2016 to Sep 2017 with residual tissue after standard molecular testing. Tissue samples were tested using a targeted NGS panel for DNA alterations (29 selected genes including BRAF, EGFR, ERBB2 and TP53) and an RNA fusion panel (ALK, ROS1 and RET). PD-L1 immunohistochemistry was also performed. A cost-effectiveness analysis of NGS compared to standard molecular testing was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 174 samples were evaluated: PD-L1 (n = 169), NGS DNA panel (n = 173) and RNA fusion (n = 119) testing. Median age was 68 years, 53 % were male, 58 % were never smokers, 85 % were Chinese, 66 % had stage IV disease and 95 % had adenocarcinoma histology. In patients profiled with NGS on DNA, EGFR (56 %), KRAS (14 %), BRAF (2 %) and ERBB2 (1 %) mutations were found. RNA fusion testing revealed fusions in ALK (6 %), RET (3 %) and ROS1 (1 %). Cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that compared to sequential testing in EGFR negative patients, upfront NGS testing would result in an additional 1 % of patients with actionable alterations for targeted therapy being identified without significant increases in testing cost or turnaround time. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that even in an EGFR mutant predominant population, upfront NGS represents a feasible, cost-effective method of diagnostic molecular profiling compared with sequential testing strategies. Our results support the implementation of diagnostic NGS in non-squamous NSCLC in Asia to allow patients access to the most appropriate personalized therapy.

Non-Target Activity Detection by Post-Radioembolization Yttrium-90 PET/CT: Image Assessment Technique and Case Examples.

High resolution yttrium-90 ((90)Y) imaging of post-radioembolization microsphere biodistribution may be achieved by conventional positron emission tomography with integrated computed tomography (PET/CT) scanners that have time-of-flight capability. However, reconstructed (90)Y PET/CT images have high background noise, making non-target activity detection technically challenging. This educational article describes our image assessment technique for non-target activity detection by (90)Y PET/CT, which qualitatively overcomes the problem of background noise. We present selected case examples of non-target activity in untargeted liver, stomach, gallbladder, chest wall, and kidney, supported by angiography and (90)Y bremsstrahlung single-photon emission computed tomography with integrated computed tomography (SPECT/CT) or technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin SPECT/CT.