In search of the most cost-effective monitoring strategy for vestibular schwannoma: A decision analytical modelling study

Cost considerations for vestibular schwannoma screening and imaging: a systematic review

Vestibular schwannomas (VS) account for approximately 8% of all intracranial neoplasms. Importantly, the cost of the diagnostic workup for VS, including the screening modalities most commonly used, has not been thoroughly investigated. Our aim is to conduct a systematic review of the published literature on costs associated with VS screening. A systematic review of the literature for cost of VS treatment was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The terms "vestibular schwannoma," "acoustic neuroma," and "cost" were queried using the PubMed and Embase databases. Studies from all countries were considered. Cost was then corrected for inflation using the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation Calculator, correcting to April 2022. The search resulted in an initial review of 483 articles, of which 12 articles were included in the final analysis. Screening criteria were used for non-neurofibromatosis type I and II patients who complained of asymmetric hearing loss, tinnitus, or vertigo. Patients included in the studies ranged from 72 to 1249. The currency and inflation-adjusted mean cost was $418.40 (range, $21.81 to $487.03, n = 5) for auditory brainstem reflex and $1433.87 (range, $511.64 to $1762.15, n = 3) for non-contrasted computed tomography. A contrasted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was found to have a median cost of $913.27 (range, $172.25-$2733.99; n = 8) whereas a non-contrasted MRI was found to have a median cost of $478.62 (range, $116.61-$3256.38, n = 4). In terms of cost reporting, of the 12 articles, 1 (8.3%) of them separated out the cost elements, and 10 (83%) of them used local prices, which include institutional costs and/or average costs of multiple institutions. Our findings describe the limited data on published costs for screening and imaging of VS. The paucity of data and significant variability of costs between studies indicates that this endpoint is relatively unexplored, and the cost of screening is poorly understood.

Comparing Patient Satisfaction After Upfront Treatment Versus Wait-and-Scan for Small Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma

OBJECTIVE

Management of small vestibular schwannoma (VS) remains controversial, as patients are typically candidates for all three management options including microsurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, or wait-and-scan. This study compares patient satisfaction across treatment modalities in patients with small VS.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Survey distributed to members of the Acoustic Neuroma Association and Mayo Clinic patients.

METHODS

Patients with small (<1 cm in any location) sporadic VS who completed at least one survey regarding treatment history and patient satisfaction were included.

RESULTS

Among 346 patients with small VS, 106 (31%) underwent microsurgery, 78 (23%) radiosurgery, 152 (44%) wait-and-scan, and 10 (3%) multimodal treatment. Collectively, 307 (89%) patients indicated "Yes, I am happy with my treatment type and in hindsight I would not change anything," and 39 (11%) indicated "No, in hindsight I would have chosen a different treatment type." Satisfaction differed significantly by treatment group with 85, 86, 96, and 40% of patients in the microsurgery, radiosurgery, wait-and-scan, and multimodal groups reporting that they were satisfied with treatment, respectively ( p < 0.001). Satisfaction also differed significantly among those undergoing upfront treatment with microsurgery or radiosurgery (81%), initial wait-and-scan followed by treatment (88%), and wait-and-scan only groups (96%; p = 0.001). Specifically, the wait-and-scan only group demonstrated greater satisfaction compared with the other two treatment strategies ( p < 0.05 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

Patient satisfaction with the management of small VS is generally high. Management with wait-and-scan, even if treatment is eventually pursued, may offer higher patient satisfaction compared with upfront treatment.

Auditory brainstem response prior to MRI compared to standalone MRI in the detection of vestibular schwannoma: A modelling study

Objectives

To determine the cost‐effectiveness of auditory brainstem response prior to MRI (ABR‐MRI) compared to standalone MRI to diagnose vestibular schwannoma.

Design

A state transition model was developed to simulate costs and effects (quality‐adjusted life years [QALY]) for both diagnostic strategies for patients suspected of a vestibular schwannoma. Model input was derived from literature, hospital databases and expert opinions. Scenario and sensitivity analyses addressed model uncertainty.

Results

Over a lifetime horizon, ABR‐MRI resulted in a limited cost‐saving of €68 or €98 per patient (dependent on MRI sequence) and a health loss of 0.005 QALYs over standalone MRI. ABR‐MRI, however, did miss patients with other important pathology (2% of the population) that would have been detected when using standalone MRI. In total, €14 203 or €19 550 could be saved per lost QALY if ABR‐MRI was used instead of standalone MRI. The results were sensitive to the detection rate of vestibular schwannoma and health‐related quality of life of missed patients.

Conclusion

The cost‐saving with ABR‐MRI does not seem to outweigh the number of missed patients with VS and other important pathologies that would have been detected when using standalone MRI.

Lifetime Cost and Quality-Adjusted Life-Years Across Management Options for Small- and Medium-Sized Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma

OBJECTIVE

Despite the growing emphasis on healthcare costs, limited data address this aspect of care within the vestibular schwannoma (VS) literature. We sought to determine which strategy confers the lowest lifetime cost and greatest quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for patients with small- to medium-sized sporadic VS tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

A Markov model was created to determine the most cost-effective management algorithm. Tumor characteristics, magnetic resonance imaging surveillance schedule, treatment outcomes, and health-related quality of life values were derived from previously published data. Cost estimates were based on CMS Fee Schedule reimbursement rates.

SETTING

Economic Evaluation Service within the Kern Center for the Science of Healthcare Delivery.

PATIENTS

Patients diagnosed with small- to medium-sized sporadic VS.

INTERVENTIONS

Upfront microsurgery following diagnosis, upfront radiosurgery following diagnosis, observation with microsurgery reserved for observed tumor growth, and observation with radiosurgery reserved for observed tumor growth.

RESULTS

Across patient ages at time of diagnosis ranging from 18 to 70 years, observation with subsequent radiosurgery used for tumor growth was the most cost-effective management algorithm while upfront microsurgery was the least. When presented with a hypothetical 50-year-old patient, the strategy with the lowest lifetime cost and highest QALYs was observation with subsequent radiosurgery reserved for tumor growth ($32,161, 14.11 QALY), followed by observation with microsurgery reserved for tumor growth ($34,503, 13.94 QALY), upfront radiosurgery ($43,456, 14.02 QALY), and lastly, upfront microsurgery ($47,252, 13.60 QALY). Sensitivity analyses varying mortality rates, estimated costs, health-related quality of life, and progression to nonserviceable hearing demonstrated consistent ranking among treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

When considering initial management of small- and medium-sized sporadic VSs, neither lifetime cost nor QALYs support upfront microsurgery or radiosurgery, even for younger patients. Initial observation with serial imaging, reserving radiosurgery or microsurgery for patients exhibiting tumor growth, confers the greatest potential for optimized lifetime healthcare cost and QALY outcomes.

Development of a model to predict vestibular schwannoma growth: An opportunity to introduce new wait and scan strategies

Objectives

To develop a prediction model to predict vestibular schwannoma (VS) growth for patients in a wait and scan (W&S) strategy.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary hospital (Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands).

Participants

Patients with unilateral VS, entering a W&S strategy and at least one follow‐up MRI available. Data on demographics, symptoms, audiometry and MRI characteristics at time of diagnosis were collected from medical records.

Main outcome measures

Following multiple imputation, a multivariable Cox regression model was used to select variables, using VS growth (≥2 mm) as outcome. Decision curve analyses (DCA) were performed to compare the model to the current strategy.

Results

Of 1217 analysed VS patients, 653 (53.7%) showed growth during follow‐up. Balance complaints (HR 1.57 (95% CI: 1.31‐1.88)) and tinnitus complaints in the affected ear (HR 1.36 (95% CI: 1.15‐1.61)), Koos grade (Koos 1 is reference, Koos 2 HR 1.03 (95% CI: 0.80‐1.31), Koos 3 HR 1.55 (95% CI: 1.16‐2.06), Koos 4 HR 2.18 (95% CI: 1.60‐2.96)), time since onset of symptoms (IQR HR 0.83 (95% CI: 0.77‐0.88) and intrameatal diameter on MRI (IQR HR 1.67 (95% CI: 1.42‐1.96)) were selected as significant predictors. The model's discrimination (Harrell's C) was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.67‐0.71), and calibration was good. DCA showed that the model has a higher net benefit than the current strategy for probabilities of VS growth of >12%, 15% and 21% for the first consecutive 3 years, respectively.

Conclusions

Patients with balance and tinnitus complaints, a higher Koos grade, short duration of symptoms and a larger intrameatal diameter at time of diagnosis have a higher probability of future VS growth. After external validation, this model may be used to inform patients about their prognosis, individualise the W&S strategy and improve (cost‐)effectiveness.

In search of the most cost-effective monitoring strategy for vestibular schwannoma: A decision analytical modelling study

Objectives

To assess the cost‐effectiveness of frequently used monitoring strategies for vestibular schwannoma (VS).

Design

A state transition model was developed to compare six monitoring strategies for patients with VS: lifelong annual monitoring; annual monitoring for the first 10 years after diagnosis; scanning at 1‐5, 7, 9, 12, 15 years after diagnosis and subsequently every 5 years; a personalised monitoring strategy for small and large tumours; scanning at 1, 2 and 5 years after diagnosis and no monitoring. Input data were derived from literature and expert opinion. Quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) and healthcare costs of each strategy were modelled over lifetime. Net monetary benefits (NMBs) were calculated to determine which strategy provided most value for money. Sensitivity analyses were performed to address uncertainty.

Results

Omitting monitoring is least effective with 18.23 (95% CI 16.84‐19.37) QALYs per patient, and lifelong annual monitoring is most effective with 18.66 (95% CI 17.42‐19.65) QALYs. Corresponding costs were €6526 (95% CI 5923‐7058) and €9429 (95% CI 9197‐9643) per patient, respectively. Lifelong annual monitoring provided the best value with a NMB of €363 765 (339 040‐383 697), but the overall probability of being most cost‐effective compared to the other strategies was still only 23%. Sensitivity analysis shows that there is large uncertainty in the effectiveness of all strategies, with largely overlapping 95% confidence intervals for all strategies.

Conclusions

Due to the largely overlapping 95% confidence intervals of all monitoring strategies for VS, it is unclear which monitoring strategy provides most value for money at this moment.