Performance Goals for an Adjunct Diagnostic Test to Reduce Unnecessary Biopsies After Screening Mammography: Analysis of Costs, Benefits, and Consequences.

Purpose: Because benign biopsies resulting from false-positive mammographic findings are a known harm of breast cancer screening, physicians and test manufacturers are searching for ways to reduce their frequency. The aim of this study was to estimate potential costs and consequences associated with using an adjunct diagnostic test for triaging women with suspicious mammographic findings before biopsy.

Methods: A decision model was developed to compare the use of an adjunct test before biopsy to the current standard of care for suspicious mammographic findings.

Economic evaluation of diagnostic localization following biochemical prostate cancer recurrence.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess potential cost-effectiveness of using a prostate cancer specific functional imaging technology capable of identifying residual localized disease versus small volume metastatic disease for asymptomatic men with low but detectable prostate specific antigen (PSA) elevation following radical prostatectomy.

Methods: Markov modeling was used to estimate the incremental impact on healthcare system costs (2012 USD) and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of two alternative strategies: (i) using the new diagnostic to guide therapy versus (ii) current usual care-using a combination of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and bone scan to guide therapy. Costs were based on estimates from literature and Medicare reimbursement.

Performance goals for an adjunct diagnostic test to reduce unnecessary biopsies after screening mammography: analysis of costs, benefits, and consequences.

Purpose: Because benign biopsies resulting from false-positive mammographic findings are a known harm of breast cancer screening, physicians and test manufacturers are searching for ways to reduce their frequency. The aim of this study was to estimate potential costs and consequences associated with using an adjunct diagnostic test for triaging women with suspicious mammographic findings before biopsy.

Methods: A decision model was developed to compare the use of an adjunct test before biopsy to the current standard of care for suspicious mammographic findings.

Genetic testing in combination with preventive donepezil treatment for patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: an exploratory economic evaluation of personalized medicine.

Objective: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of genetic screening for the apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 allele in combination with preventive donepezil treatment in comparison with the standard of care for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (AMCI) patients in Canada.

Methods: We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis using a Markov model with a societal perspective and a time horizon of 30 years. For each strategy, we calculated quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), using utilities from the literature.

A review of economic evaluations of genetic testing services and interventions (2004-2009).

To review economic evaluations of genetic interventions published between 2004 and 2009 and assess the quality of the identified studies, we searched for economic evaluations of genetic testing and interventions published between 2004 and 2009. Studies that met inclusion criteria were reviewed and their quality then assessed using a validated instrument-the Quality of Health Economic Studies. Of 54 articles identified, 26 met study criteria and were included in the review.