Bone Tumors: Medical Imaging Reduces Surgery
Only a few years ago, patients with suspected cancerous tumors had to undergo exploratory surgery-with long hospital stays and recuperation time. Today, thanks to medical imaging, minimally-invasive procedures guided by fluoroscopy, CT, ultrasound, and MRI have virtually replaced open surgical biopsy for bone and other tumors.
According to researchers, these image-based procedures range from three to seven times more cost-effective than surgical biopsies. 1
A 2002 Radiology study reported that image-guided percutaneous biopsy of bone tumors creates new efficiencies while fostering less invasive care. Among them: shorter procedure time, fewer infections, fewer complications, and earlier wound healing.
Another benefit of the non-surgical approach is an earlier start to therapy: "With definitive diagnosis, therapy can be started the day after core needle biopsy. After a surgical approach, a delay of 10 days to 3 weeks is required to allow wound healing and prevention of infection and bleeding."
The savings that result from substituting image-based therapies reach across the health care system. Fewer complications mean fewer days in the hospital, less demand on hospital personnel, fewer visits to physicians, and lower costs. Shorter procedure times translate into administrative efficiencies, such as greater availability of surgical suites and staff. And for patients, avoiding weeks of recuperation leads to fewer lost-work days, less sick leave, and a decreased need for caregivers.
- Jelinek, JS et al. "Diagnosis of Primary Bone Tumors with Image-Guided Percutaneous Biopsy: Experience with 110 Tumors." Radiology. 223 (2002): 731 - 737.
|
