AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jul 2002
Comparative StudyChildren with suspected craniosynostosis: a cost-effectiveness analysis of diagnostic strategies.
Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical and economic impact of three evaluation strategies in children at different risks of craniosynostosis. ⋯ Radiologic screening of completely healthy children (low risk) for synostosis is not warranted because of the high cost per QALY gained of the radiographic and 3D CT strategies. In healthy children with head deformity (intermediate risk), the radiographic strategy had a reasonable cost per QALY gained. Three-dimensional CT was more effective but had a high cost per QALY gained. In children with syndromic craniofacial disorders (high risk), 3D CT was the most effective strategy and had a reasonable cost per QALY gained. Selection of children with suspected craniosynostosis based on their risk group and use of the most appropriate evaluation strategy could maximize clinical and economic outcomes for these patients.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jul 2002
Comparative StudyBody MR imaging and CT volume: variations and trends based on an analysis of medicare and fee-for-service health insurance databases.
We examined Medicare and fee-for-service data sets to understand better the utilization of MR imaging for imaging the pelvis, abdomen, and chest relative to its use in imaging for other body parts and to the utilization of CT. ⋯ Although far more abdominal CT than abdominal MR imaging is performed, the rate of abdominal MR imaging utilization has increased more rapidly since 1993. The relative procedure volume of abdominal MR imaging varied more than fivefold from rural to urban provider locations and double from nonteaching to teaching hospitals.