The Technology Assessment Centre (NTAC) of the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) has published a guide recommending that ultrasound elastography be performed instead of a biopsy for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in a patient.
NTAC studied the implementation of ultrasound elastography within secondary care at three NHS trusts, or hospital groups. These included the King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, and the East Cheshire NHS Trust.
The York Health Economic Consortium performed economic modeling based upon real life implementation costs. York estimated a gross savings of 520 pounds (618 euros) per diagnosis. When extrapolated across the NHS, this equates to an estimated savings of 14.3 million pounds (16.99 million euros) per annum.
