Impact of 18FFDG-PET/CT and Laparoscopy in Staging of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Cost Analysis in the Prospective Multicenter PLASTIC-Study

Cas de Jongh, Miriam P. van der Meulen, Emma C. Gertsen, Hylke J. F. Brenkman, Johanna W. van Sandick, Mark I. van Berge Henegouwen, Suzanne S. Gisbertz, Misha D. P. Luyer, Grard A. P. Nieuwenhuijzen, Jan J. B. van Lanschot, Sjoerd M. Lagarde, Bas P. L. Wijnhoven, Wobbe O. de Steur, Henk H. Hartgrink, Jan H. M. B. Stoot, Karel W. E. Hulsewe, Ernst Jan Spillenaar Bilgen, Marc J. van Det, Ewout A. Kouwenhoven, Freek DaamsDonald L. van der Peet, Nicole C. T. van Grieken, Joos Heisterkamp, Boudewijn van Etten, Jan-Willem van den Berg, Jean-Pierre Pierie, Hasan H. Eker, Annemieke Y. Thijssen, Eric J. T. Belt, Peter van Duijvendijk, Eelco Wassenaar, Kevin P. Wevers, Lieke Hol, Frank J. Wessels, Nadia Haj Mohammad, Geert W. J. Frederix, Richard van Hillegersberg, Peter D. Siersema, Erik Vegt, Jelle P. Ruurda

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Abstract

Background: Unnecessary D2-gastrectomy and associated costs can be prevented after detecting non-curable gastric cancer, but impact of staging on treatment costs is unclear. This study determined the cost impact of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18FFDG-PET/CT) and staging laparoscopy (SL) in gastric cancer staging. Materials and Methods: In this cost analysis, four staging strategies were modeled in a decision tree: (1) 18FFDG-PET/CT first, then SL, (2) SL only, (3) 18FFDG-PET/CT only, and (4) neither SL nor 18FFDG-PET/CT. Costs were assessed on the basis of the prospective PLASTIC-study, which evaluated adding 18FFDG-PET/CT and SL to staging advanced gastric cancer (cT3–4 and/or cN+) in 18 Dutch hospitals. The Dutch Healthcare Authority provided 18FFDG-PET/CT unit costs. SL unit costs were calculated bottom-up. Gastrectomy-associated costs were collected with hospital claim data until 30 days postoperatively. Uncertainty was assessed in a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (1000 iterations). Results: 18FFDG-PET/CT costs were €1104 including biopsy/cytology. Bottom-up calculations totaled €1537 per SL. D2-gastrectomy costs were €19,308. Total costs per patient were €18,137 for strategy 1, €17,079 for strategy 2, and €19,805 for strategy 3. If all patients undergo gastrectomy, total costs were €18,959 per patient (strategy 4). Performing SL only reduced costs by €1880 per patient. Adding 18FFDG-PET/CT to SL increased costs by €1058 per patient; IQR €870–1253 in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: For advanced gastric cancer, performing SL resulted in substantial cost savings by reducing unnecessary gastrectomies. In contrast, routine 18FFDG-PET/CT increased costs without substantially reducing unnecessary gastrectomies, and is not recommended due to limited impact with major costs. Trial registration: NCT03208621. This trial was registered prospectively on 30-06-2017.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4005-4017
Number of pages13
JournalAnnals of surgical oncology
Volume31
Issue number6
Early online date2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2024

Keywords

  • Costs
  • Gastrectomy
  • Gastric cancer
  • Laparoscopy
  • Positron emission tomography
  • Staging

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