THE COST OF HYPERTHERMIA - 9 YEARS EXPERIENCE AT THE RADIATION-THERAPY-DEPARTMENT OF THE TURIN-UNIVERSITY

Background: In this paper the authors try to quantify the expenditure for the equipment, staff, treatment per patient and research, sustaine d at the Radiation Therapy Department of the University of Turin for t he treatment of cancer with hyperthermia, Methods: Two hyperthermic co mputerized devices are available: the SAPIC SVO3 multifrequencies syst em (915, 434 and 2-30 MHz) for external hyperthermia, and the SACEM sy stem. working only with the frequency of 915 MHz, for interstitial and intracavitary heating. From September 1983 to December 1991, 408 pati ents have been treated with hyperthermia, for a total number of treate d sites of 483; 2960 heating sessions were performed, with a average o f six sessions per patient. Results: The overall cost of our ''hyperth ermia project'' was about 2,000,000,000 Italian liras; the equipment c ost was estimated at 1,258,650,000 Liras (839,100 US$), and the cost p er treatment and per heat session at about 3,985,200 (2676 US$) and 66 4,200 liras (443 US$), respectively. The cost of the research program can be estimated in 175,000,000 liras (116,666 US$). The National Heal th System provides for a partial reimbursement of 2,000,000 liras (1,3 33 US$) for each course of hyperthermia. Taking into account the mean expected life expectancy and increasing purchases for replacement of e quipment, these costs increase 10% each year. As regards the cost-bene fit problem, using the Rees formula it varies from 1112 US$ when hyper thermia is used as elective treatment to 3380 US$ when hyperthermia is used as palliative treatment. Conclusions: Hyperthermia is, in our ex perience, an expensive therapy.