Regular follow-up after curative resection of nonsmall cell lung cancer: a real benefit for patients?

Egermann, U; Jaeggi, K; Habicht, J M; Perruchoud, A P; Dalquen, P; Solèr, M (2002). Regular follow-up after curative resection of nonsmall cell lung cancer: a real benefit for patients? European respiratory journal, 19(3), pp. 464-8. Sheffield, UK: European Respiratory Society 10.1183/09031936.02.00231802

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Even though complete resection is regarded as the only curative treatment for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), >50% of resected patients die from a recurrence or a second primary tumour of the lung within 5 yrs. It remains unclear, whether follow-up in these patients is cost-effective and whether it can improve the outcome due to early detection of recurrent tumour. The benefit of regular follow-up in a consecutive series of 563 patients, who had undergone potentially curative resection for NSCLC at the University Hospital, was analysed. The follow-up consisted of clinical visits and chest radiography according to a standard protocol for up to 10 yrs. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis method and the cost-effectiveness of the follow-up programme was assessed. A total of 23 patients (6.4% of the group with lobectomy) underwent further operation with curative intent for a second pulmonary malignancy. The regular follow-up over a 10-yr period provided the chance for a second curative treatment to 3.8% of all patients. The calculated costs per life-yr gained were 90,000 Swiss Francs. The cost-effectiveness of the follow-up protocol was far above those of comparable large-scale surveillance programmes. Based on these data, the intensity and duration of the follow-up was reduced.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition
UniBE Contributor:	Egermann, Ulrich
ISSN:	0903-1936
Publisher:	European Respiratory Society
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:23
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:25
Publisher DOI:	10.1183/09031936.02.00231802
PubMed ID:	11936523
Web of Science ID:	000174521700013
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/37247 (FactScience: 207262)