Cost‐effectiveness of whole‐body bone scans in the pre‐liver transplant assessment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Southern Brazil

• DOI: 10.1111/ctr.12699
• Publication Date: 2016-01-19T13:27:00Z
• Authors: Santiago Rodríguez; Giácomo Balbinott...; Guillermo Kiss; Ajacio Brandão
• Keywords: Milan criteria

Bone metastases (BM) are rare in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In many centers, liver transplantation (LTx) policies require HCC to undergo bone scans (BSs).We retrospectively assessed the benefit of BS for a diagnosis wait-listed LTx.BS was performed 259 328 (78.9%) and suggestive BM only one (0.4%). At follow-up, 276 had received LTx, whom 207 undergone BS. Histopathological examination explants failed confirm presence 20 from group. The survival recurrence rates 187 confirmed explant who underwent as part pre-LTx assessment 69 did not were compared. one- five-yr post-transplant 81% 69%, respectively, group vs. 78% 62%, (p = 0.25). post-LTx 4.8% 10.7%, 2.9% 10.1%, 0.46).BS generated expenditures US$39 296 cost-effective.