Cost-effectiveness of endoscopic ultrasonography in submucosal tumors

Abstract

Clinical management decisions are increasingly based on endoscopic ultrasonography, especially in esophageal or rectal malignancies and unclear submucosal tumors. Studies investigating the impact of different diagnostic approaches on economic resources and cost effectiveness, however, have emerged only very recently. In this article, we have compared an approach using EUS versus one using computed tomography in further evaluating unclear submucosal tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract with regard to incremental costs per patient.