Radiology, Vol 204, 627-633, Copyright © 1997 by Radiological Society of North America
Wilms tumor imaging: patient costs and protocol compliance
CW Carrico, MD Cohen, JM Zerin and R Weetman
Department of Radiology, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis 46202-5200, USA.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the patient costs for imaging and compliance with
imaging protocols in pediatric patients in the National Wilms Tumor Study
(NWTS) IV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical and imaging records of 60
patients (28 male, 32 female; aged 3 days to 12.6 years) in NWTS IV were
reviewed. Initial imaging and follow-up imaging were evaluated separately.
Three levels of follow-up compliance were evaluated. RESULTS: The total
patient cost for imaging was $442,180: $94,212 for initial and $347,968 for
follow-up studies. Many areas of potential cost savings were identified.
Protocol compliance was variable. Seventy- five percent of patients
underwent studies in full compliance with the initial protocol
requirements. For follow-up, compliance was 0%-80% for different studies at
different compliance levels. For no study was compliance 100%. CONCLUSION:
Imaging costs in pediatric patients with Wilms tumor are substantial.
Protocol compliance was not optimal.
