The cost of treating small cell lung cancer.

摘要: OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost of treating small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and to assess quality-adjusted survival in these patients. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Westmead Hospital, a tertiary referral institution. PATIENTS: Consecutive sample 31 patients with histologically proved SCLC, treated between January 1987 December 1987. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The investigation, hospitalisation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy follow-up overall for those limited extensive disease respectively. Quality-adjusted was based on Q-TWiST RESULTS: median per patient $14,413 (range, $1188-$39,598) all $18,234 $1914-$39,598) $13,177 $1188-$32,798) two major costs were hospitalisation (42%) chemotherapy (18%). Radiotherapy accounted 11% costs. analysis suggests that disease, is similar absolute survival. CONCLUSIONS: treatment SCLC at our institution expensive but may be reduced by reduction duration use less combination drug regimens, or "true" outpatient chemotherapy. Despite intensive therapy, maintained reasonable quality life.