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. 1996 Oct;39(4):574–579. doi: 10.1136/gut.39.4.574

Cost effectiveness of detecting Barrett's cancer.

T A Wright 1, M R Gray 1, A I Morris 1, I T Gilmore 1, A Ellis 1, H L Smart 1, M Myskow 1, J Nash 1, R J Donnelly 1, A N Kingsnorth 1
PMCID: PMC1383272  PMID: 8944568

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Screening Barrett's oesophagus is controversial owing to a large variation in the reported incidence of neoplastic change and lack of evidence that screening improves tumour prognosis. AIMS: To determine the incidence of Barrett's cancer, its cost of detection, and stage of disease at time of diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from our surveillance programme have been reviewed to assess the incidence of malignant change, tumour stage at diagnosis, and the cost per cancer detected. RESULTS: 166 patients had annual endoscopic surveillance. Six patients (five men) developed cancer-an incidence of one cancer per 59 male and 167 female patient-years of follow up. The screened group had a significantly earlier stage than a control group of unscreened cancers (p < 0.05). The cost of detecting one cancer was Pounds 14 868 for men and Pounds 42 084 for women. CONCLUSIONS: The cost of screening for Barrett's cancer is high but may be justified on the basis of the high incidence of detecting early stage disease.

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Selected References

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