To image or not to image? A cost-effectiveness analysis of MRI for patients with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss.

Objectives/hypothesis: Our objective was to perform an economic analysis evaluating whether ordering a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a cost-effective practice in the workup of undifferentiated asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL). Use of T1 gadolinium-weighted MR (GdT1W) and T2 weighted MR without contrast (T2MR) was each examined.

Methods: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of MR imaging among ASNHL patients was evaluated using a decision tree.