The Cost-Effectiveness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Patients with Equivocal Neurological Symptoms

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Abstract
Objective: To determine the incremental cost-effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) in young adults presenting with equivocal neurological signs and symptoms. Designs and methods: A decision analysis of long-term survival using accuracy data from a diagnostic technology assessment of MRI and CT in patients with suspected multiple sclerosis, information from the medical literature, and clinical assumptions. Main results: In the baseline analysis, at 30% likelihood of an underlying neurologic disease, MRI use has an incremental cost of 25,000 for each quality-adjusted life-year saved no matter the likelihood of disease. Conclusions: For most individuals with neurological symptoms or signs, CT imaging is cost-effective while MR imaging is not. The cost-effectiveness of MRI use, however, improves as the likelihood of an underlying neurological disease increases. For selected patients who highly value diagnostic information, MRI is a reasonable and cost-effective use of medical resources when even the likelihood of disease is quite low (5%).