Potential cost-effectiveness of a diagnostic that identifies localized versus metastatic prostate cancer in men with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

229 Background: Asymptomatic men with low but detectable PSA elevation following radical prostatectomy, often receive costly, burdensome, and potentially damaging salvage radiation therapy with uncertain benefit. A new prostate cancer specific functional imaging technology capable of identifying residual localized disease vs. small volume metastatic disease, to more accurately guide therapy decisions, could be of benefit. As a guide to diagnostic development efforts, the objective of this study was to assess the potential cost-effectiveness of using a novel diagnostic in this way. Methods: A Markov model was built to reflect the life-time natural history of prostate cancer recurrence. The model was used to estimate the incremental impact on costs (US healthcare system perspective) and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) of two alternative strategies: 1) using the new diagnostic to guide therapy vs. 2) usual care - using a combination of CT, MRI and bone scan to guide therapy. Costs were based on estimates...