Contemporary cost analysis of single instillation of mitomycin after transurethral resection of bladder tumor in a universal health care system.

OBJECTIVE: Although recommended management strategy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) involves a single postoperative intravesical therapy with mitomycin C (MMC), it is uncommonly used among urologists, in part because of potential increased costs. Our objective was to perform a 5-year cost analysis of this strategy within a single-provider health care environment.
METHODS: A decision-analytic model was used. Input estimates for 5-year recurrence rates (50%) and MMC efficacy (absolute risk reduction of 17% and 12%) were identified via a systematic literature search and data from 2 meta-analyses. Direct costs included physician fees, MMC drug and preparation costs, transurethral bladder tumor resection (TURBT), and cystoscopy, as well as institutional hospital fees. Indirect societal costs such as work absences and productivity loss were not considered. The model was limited to a 5-year follow-up period with the following assumptions: similar rates of progression, constant recurrence rates, and no cross-over between groups.
RESULTS: Overall 5-year analysis reveals that TURBT plus MMC strategy is not associated with increased costs; it saves the Medicare system $148/patient compared with TURBT alone. Calculated differences took into account avoidance of cystoscopic surveillance, urinary cytology, and reoperative and follow-up costs associated with multiple recurrences. Analysis revealed dominance of MMC usage over TURBT alone as early as 4 years from surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: Routine usage of MMC after TURBT is not associated with increased costs to the health care system. In fact, there is a significant cost savings. Nonquantified patient quality of life benefits and secondary societal advantages of gained wages and productivity owing to decreases in recurrence and surgery would further increase the cost savings.