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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2000; Volume 21(Number 05): 375-384
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-9400
Copyright © 2000 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Economic Issues in Lung Cancer

Louise Bordeleau1,26 , Pamela J. Goodwin1,3-6
  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  • 2Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada
  • 3Division of Clinical Epidemiology at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  • 4Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
  • 5the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research Program
  • 6University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to review the economics of lung cancer management. The economic literature that relates to the diagnosis, treatment, and palliation of lung cancer as well as the pertinent methodological literature were reviewed. Lung cancer treatment is moderately expensive. The overall cost to society is significant given its high incidence. The cost of staging lung cancer can be minimized through the judicious use of diagnostic and staging procedures. The cost-effectiveness of combined modality therapy and palliative chemotherapy for lung cancer appears reasonable when compared with commonly accepted medical interventions. Based on this review, current approaches to lung cancer diagnosis and treatment are, for the most part, cost-effective. Reasons for inconsistent practice patterns in the management of lung cancer in the medical community should be further explored.

KEYWORD

Lung cancer - costs - decision-making

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