NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre

Systematic reviews

Technological assessment

Systematic reviews > Reviews of new technology

Reviews of new technology

The CTC reviews new technology for the Medical Services Advisory Committee of the Department of Health and Ageing. Published reports can be found at www.msac.gov.au
Current and recent reviews
Positron emission tomography for recurrent colorectal, melanoma and ovarian cancer
Type of evaluation Systematic review and economic model Patient population Patients with colorectal liver metastases, suspected locoregional recurrence of colorectal or ovarian cancer or metastastic recurrence of melanoma Intervention Positron emission tomography (PET) Comparator Conventional imaging including computed tomography (CT) (incremental value) Status Ongoing
Selective dorsal rhizotomy
Type of evaluation Review of suitability as a nationally funded centre Patient population Patients with cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia Intervention Selective dorsal rhizotomy Comparator Combinations of physiotherapy, orthotics, casting, lower limb Intramuscular botulinum toxin type A injections, and orthopaedic surgery Status Ongoing
Paediatric liver transplantation
Type of evaluation Review of suitability as a nationally funded centre (systematic review searched only for existing systematic reviews or health technology assessments) Patient population Children with end-stage liver disease Intervention Paediatric liver transplantation Comparator not specified Status Ongoing
Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy
Type of evaluation Evaluation for suitability as a nationally funded centre Patient population Patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension Intervention Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy Comparator medical therapy (warfarin) ± lung transplantation Status Ongoing
Peritonectomy
Type of evaluation Evaluation for suitability as a nationally funded centre Patient population Patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei and peritoneal mesothelioma Intervention Cytoreductive surgery with peritonectomy procedures and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy Comparator Debulking ± systemic chemotherapy Status Ongoing
Breast magnetic resonance imaging
Type of evaluation Systematic review and economic evaluation Patient population Asymptomatic women at high risk of breast cancer Intervention Breast magnetic resonance imaging as a screening test in addition to mammography and breast ultrasound Comparator Mammography with or without breast ultrasound Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 5 February 2007.
Assisted reproductive technologies
Type of evaluation Systematic review and economic model Patient population Couples with unexplained infertility or male factor infertility Intervention Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) Comparator Alternative ARTs strategies Result The Australian Government response to the recommendations of the independent review of ARTs and the scientific technology assessment report (appendix A) are available at www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/ART-Report
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Type of evaluation Diagnostic test evaluation, systematic review and economic model Patient population Suspected bile duct obstruction due to common bile duct stones or strictures Intervention Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Comparator Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopacreatography (ERCP) Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 4 July 2005.
Drug-eluting stents
Type of evaluation Systematic review Patient population Patients with de novo coronary artery disease, with various prespecified subgroups Intervention Paclitaxel- or sirolimus-eluting stents Comparator Bare metal stents Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 2 March 2005
Magnetic resonance imaging for staging cervical and endometrial cancer
Type of evaluation Diagnostic test evaluation and systematic review Patient population Cervical cancer and endometrial cancer Intervention Magnetic resonance imaging Comparator CT, ultrasound, clinical examination, biopsy Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 5 February 2002. Link to report
Brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer
Type of evaluation Systematic review Patient population Patients with early, localised prostate cancer. Intervention Brachytherapy (iodine-125 permanent implants) Comparator Radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy, no initial treatment or deferred treatment ('active surveillance') Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 28 November 2005.
Gamma knife radiosurgery
Type of evaluation Systematic review Patient population Patients with pituitary adenomas, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, arteriovenous malformations, primary malignant lesions, or cerebral metastases. Intervention Gamma knife radiosurgery Comparator Varied across indications (surgery, radiotherapy, Linac, Cyberknife, observation) Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 3 November 2006.
Positron emission tomography for epilepsy
Type of evaluation Systematic review Patient population Patients with epilepsy refractory to medical treatment being considered for surgery Intervention Positron emission tomography (PET) Comparator Standard presurgical evaluation, including MRI and EEG Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 2 March 2005.
Positron emission tomography for NSCLC and SPN
Type of evaluation Systematic review (change in patient management and outcomes only) Patient population Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (update only) and solitary pulmonary nodule Intervention Positron emission tomography (PET) Comparator Standard care Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 2 March 2005.
Lymphoedema review
Type of evaluation Horizon scanning Scope Review of current practices and future directions in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of lymphoedema in Australia Status Report published February 2004.
Coronary artery disease review
Type of evaluation Horizon scanning Status Report published March 2003
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for morbid obesity
Type of evaluation Systematic review and economic model Patient population Morbidly obese Intervention Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) Comparator Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 7 September 2003.
Computed tomography colonography (CTC)
Type of evaluation Systematic review and economic model Patient population i) Symptomatic patients and asymptomatic with high risk due to personal/family history of colorectal polyps or cancer; and ii) symptomatic or high-risk patients who are ineligible for colonoscopy due to patient contraindications or the inability to perform or complete the test (versus DCBE only) Intervention Computed tomography colonography (CTC) Comparator DCBE, colonoscopy Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 24 August 2006.
SIR-Spheres for the treatment of non-resectable liver tumours
Type of evaluation Systematic review and economic model Patient population Patients with: 1. non-resectable, non-ablatable hepatic metastases secondary to colorectal cancer; 2. non-resectable, non-ablatable hepatocellular carcinoma Intervention SIR-Spheres ± chemotherapy Comparator 1. HAC treatment/ systemic chemotherapy; 2. transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) or iodine-131lipiodol Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 28 November 2005.
Ostase
Type of evaluation Diagnostic test evaluation, systematic review and economic model Patient population Pagets disease of bone, renal osteodystrophy, prostate cancer and osteoporosis Intervention Ostase Comparator Total alkaline phosphatase (in Paget's disease) or as an incremental test for the other indications Status Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 8 August 2003.
Intravascular brachytherapy
Type of evaluation Systematic review and economic model Patient population Patients with coronary artery restensosis Intervention Catheter-based intravascular brachytherapy Comparator Other types of percutaneous interventions Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 16 October 2002.
Endoluminal gastroplication for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
Type of evaluation Systematic review and economic model Patient population Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease Intervention Endoluminal gastroplication (ELGP) Comparator Pharmacology and/or surgery Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 26 June 2002.
Magnetic resonance imaging for staging cervical and endometrial cancer
Type of evaluation Diagnostic test evaluation and systematic review Patient population Cervical cancer and endometrial cancer Intervention Magnetic resonance imaging Comparator CT, ultrasound, clinical examination, biopsy Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 5 February 2002.
Conformal radiotherapy
Type of evaluation Systematic review Patient population Prostate cancer, other cancers Intervention Conformal radiotherapy Comparator Conventional radiotherapy Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 5 February 2002.
Intravascular ultrasound
Type of evaluation Diagnostic test evaluation, systematic review, decision analysis and economic model Patient population Coronary artery disease (diagnosis of and, during intervention, for the treatment of) Intervention Intravascular ultrasound Comparator No intravascular ultrasound (incremental value) Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 17 May 2002.
Transurethral needle ablation for benign prostatic hyperplasia
T ype of evaluation Systematic review, decision analysis and economic model Patient population Symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia Intervention Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) Comparator Transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) Result Recommendations of the report were endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on 17 May 2002.