Cost-effect analysis of computed tomography in diagnosis for patients with epilepsy / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine the cost effect for cranial CT scans in epileptic patients.Methods The newly diagnosed epileptic patients from 1995 to 2000 were prospectively investigated by cranial CT scan in our clinic for epilepsy. The cost for finding a case of significant pathology was estimated to determine the cost effect of cranial CT scan in patients.Results 572 cases of generalized and 172 of partial epileptic patients were studied. 32% of the overall abnormalities were found by CT scan in all patients, but specific abnormalities were only found in 10% of the patients. None of 480 generalized patients without focal abnormalities in neurological and/or EEG examinations was found having clinically important abnormalities by using CT, the cost for finding a case of significant pathology was estimated to need at least 64 214 yuan. While 50% partial seizure patients having focal abnormalities in the examinations, were found having specific abnormalities by CT, the cost of finding a case of significant pathology was estimated to be 800 yuan (Cost for a CT scan about 400 yuan in our hospital).Conclusion When there is a shrinking availability of health care money, especially in developing countries, CT scan evaluation for a neurological normal patient with generalized seizures is expensive that the cost effect analysis should be taken into account.