Pamidronate in Prevent ion of Bone Compl icat ions in Metastat ic Breast Cancer: A Cost-Ef fect i veness Analys i s

complications in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have known osteolytic lesions. However, pamidr-onate does not increase survival and is associated with additional financial costs and inconvenience. We con-ducted a post-hoc evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of pamidronate using the results of two randomized trials that evaluated pamidronate 90 mg administered intra-venously every month versus placebo. Patients and Methods: The trials differed only in the initial systemic therapy administered (hormonal or che-motherapy). Total skeletal related events (SREs), includ-ing surgery for pathologic fracture, radiation for frac-ture or pain control, conservatively treated pathologic fracture, spinal cord compression, or hypercalcemia, were taken directly from the trials. Using a societa