Background: Bone scan is a sensitive, early, non-invasive and accurate imaging to detect active bone lesion，such as bone metastases. The purpose of this study is to analysis the utilization of Bone Scan in Taiwan by National Health Insurance (NHI) database.
Methods: This study used the longitudinal NHI database, including registration files and claims data for reimbursement for 1000,000 enrollees (LHID2005) from 1997 to 2009. It was a retrospective population-based study. The demographic characteristics of Bone Scan, physician specialty, cause of disease, district hospitals, hospital ownership, and hospital characteristics were described.
Results:At the frequency of Bone Scan, the prevalence of outpatients is larger than that of inpatients. As for the age and gender, female of the 40-59 years old was the top one. The physician specialty reported more frequently as the general surgeon. The disease reported of outpatients more frequently as other cancers, including the malignant neoplasm of stomach, colon, and kidney; followed by malignant neoplasm of female breast. The disease reported of inpatients more frequently as other cancers, including malignant neoplasm of esophagus, prostate, and nasopharynx; followed by malignant neoplasm of lung. The hospital ownership reported more frequently as foundation hospitals. The Taipei branch of the NHI bureau was the top one. Among the hospital characteristics, the medical center was the top one.
Conclusion: Among the hospitals with PET, the medical center is the top one, followed with regional hospitals. As for the hospitals accredited with Cancer Care Quality Certification by Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, R.O.C. (Taiwan)， the medical center is the top one. It is worth to provide PET in patients with certain malignancy to get accurate diagnosis, the favorable therapy and monitor the effectiveness of the therapy.