[Budget management in anatomical pathology: health technology assessment of new methodologies]

The author's experience in heath technology assessment of new methodologies for routine diagnosis at the Department of Anatomical Pathology at the Trento Hospital is presented. The workload of the department together with the annual budget trends (from 2000 to 2006) of the various costs is analysed. Budget analysis also allows evaluation of expenses relative to the introduction of new tests, which are increasingly requested in order to personalise therapy accordingly to the biological profile of individual patients. Health Technology Assessment permits in-depth analysis of the efficacy, safety, costs, benefits and feasibility in addition to providing a measurement of the contribution to improving the quality of work and life. This is an important tool in decision-making processes for pathologists, especially in consideration of the limited resources available in healthcare.