Most Cost-Effective Strategy (Theoretically) for Evaluating Asymptomatic Microscopic Hematuria

Combination renal ultrasound and cystoscopy was the least expensive approach to detecting the most occult genitourinary cancers.

Asymptomatic microscopic hematuria (AMH; defined by red blood cells on urine microscopy, not dipstick testing) raises concerns about occult genitourinary cancer. In this decision analysis, investigators used standard research sources and evidence-based assumptions to assess the cost-effectiveness of detecting genitourinary cancer with each of four strategies:

Combination computed tomography (CT) urography and cystoscopy
Combination renal ultrasound and cystoscopy
Cystoscopy alone
CT urography alone

Neither ultrasound alone nor voided-urine cytology were evaluated, due to their relatively poor sensitivity.

Combination renal ultrasound and cystoscopy was the most cost-effective, with an incremental cost per cancer detected of about US$53,000. Subst…

Reviewing Author

Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

Disclosures

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Most Cost-Effective Strategy (Theoretically) for Evaluating Asymptomatic Microscopic Hematuria

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