Health Technology Assessments

Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) are a comprehensive systematic review and critical analysis of available evidence for A SINGLE medical technology for which there are several published clinical trials and a substantial body of evidence. This report details an entire technology class for which there are one or more indications or patient populations in use.

Our analysts evaluate clinical trial data, along with information regarding safety issues, coverage policies from the private and public sectors, regulatory approvals, consensus statements, and an overall projection of the potential clinical efficacy and economic impact of the technology. Reports are reviewed annually up to 5 years post publication to determine if there is new literature or evidence that would impact a change in rating and warrant an updated report.

DaTscan (123I-Ioflupane; GE Healthcare) for Diagnosis and Management of Parkinson Disease

Health Problem: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremor, muscle rigidity, postural instability, and bradykinesia and nonmotor symptoms such as sleep disorders, olfactory impairment, attention/memory impairment, apathy, depression, and anxiety. The cause of PD is degeneration of the dopaminergic system due t…

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Health Problem: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder characterized by intrusive obsessions and repetitive compulsions where symptoms interfere with a person’s routine, occupation, or social functioning; lifetime prevalence of OCD is estimated between 2% to 3% in the United States. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed as an alternat…

Epidural Steroid Injections for Cervical Radiculopathy

Health Problem: Cervical radiculopathy is a condition that involves nerve root compression in the cervical spine. Causes of cervical radiculopathy include cervical degenerative disc disease, such as herniated disc, as well as spondylosis and cervical spinal stenosis. Few studies have examined the prevalence of cervical radiculopathy, but an oft-cited estimate is 83 patients di…

Fractional Laser Treatment of Burn and Traumatic Scars for Functional Improvement

Health Problem: The 2 most problematic abnormal scars include keloids and hypertrophic scars, which may cause contracture leading to dysfunction and disfigurement. The incidence of hypertrophic scarring is estimated to occur in 91% of burn injuries.

Technology Description: Fractional carbon dioxide and erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet lasers are com…

Comparative Effectiveness Review of Bronchoscopically Placed Coils or Valves for Lung Emphysema: A Review of Reviews

Health Problem: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, obstructive respiratory disorder in which airways are clogged with mucus; airways and alveoli lose elasticity; or alveoli are thickened, inflamed, or destroyed. Signs and symptoms include ongoing cough, often producing mucus; shortness of breath; audible breathing such as wheezing, whistling, or squ…

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a therapy for treatment-resistant major depression and bipolar disorder in which an implanted generator, the neurocybernetic prosthesis, delivers electrical pulses to the cervical portion of the vagus nerve. The goal of VNS is to reduce the severity and/or duration of a depressive period.

Comparative Effectiveness Review of Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE) for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)

Health Problem: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement or growth of the prostate gland. An enlarged prostate restricts the urethra and applies pressure on the base of the bladder. This restriction of the urethra can interfere with urination and eventually cause more serious problems.

Zio Patch (iRhythm Technologies Inc.) Long-Term Ambulatory Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring

Health Problem: Cardiac arrhythmias occur when there is abnormal formation or conduction of electrical impulses in the myocardium. General types of arrhythmias include bradycardia, tachycardia, and heart block. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is 1 of the most common arrhythmias, with an estimated prevalence of 2.7 to 6.1 million pe…

Proton Beam Therapy for Treatment of Pituitary Adenomas

Health Problem: Tumors originating in the pituitary are the fourth most common type of intracranial tumor. The majority are slow-growing benign adenomas that do not metastasize. Symptoms from pituitary adenomas (PAs) result from endocrine dysfunction or compression of brain structures as the tumor enlarges, which may result in significant morbidity.

Technology D…