Objectives: The excellent effectiveness of both treatment modalities (radiotherapy, endoscopic laser surgery) for early glottic carcinoma (Tis, TlaN0) is similar (carcinologic, functional and QoL results). This is part of an evidence-based medicine policy, which is to choose the cheapest of various treatment modalities known as equally effective and equally morbid. Is analytical economic approach useful and efficient to guide decision making? The aim of this study is to perform a costminimization analysis using an objective clinical modeling.
Material and methods: For each modality, probabilities of various events were recorded from review of literature. Only local recurrences which constitute the major end-point affecting survival were considered. French national Health insurance's point of view (as the payer's point of view), with a 100% case-mix based payment system was used. Results of cost-minimization between laser endoscopic surgery and external radiation therapy are: Global Cost of laser endoscopic surgery is about 2613.01 euro. Without (90% of cases) and with recurrence it is about 1700.36 euro and 10826.87 euro respectively. Global Cost of external radiation therapy is about 4490.88 euro. Without (90% of cases) and with recurrence it is about 3578.23 euro and 12704.74 euro respectively.
Conclusion: Cordectomy by CO2 laser seems to be an efficient cost-effective alternative to radiotherapy for early glottic carcinoma management from the French national Health insurance perspective.