Adding automated breast ultrasound to mammography in women with increased breast density or at an elevated risk of breast cancer is a cost-effective screening strategy.

Objectives: Automated breast ultrasound imaging (ABUS) results in a reduction in breast cancer stage at diagnosis beyond that seen with mammographic screening in women with increased breast density or who are at a high risk of breast cancer. It is unknown if the addition of ABUS to mammography or ABUS imaging alone, in this population, is a cost-effective screening strategy.

Methods: A discrete event simulation (Monte Carlo) model was developed to assess the costs of screening, diagnostic evaluation, biopsy, and breast cancer treatment. The number of quality-adjusted life years gained through each screening method is assessed using previously published quality of life measures. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for screening with the combination of mammographic and ABUS imaging, and for ABUS imaging alone are calculated as compared to standard mammographic imaging.

Results: Combined screening with both mammographic and ABUS imaging results in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $7,071 ($6,332-$7,809) when compared to traditional mammographic imaging (p < 0.05). ABUS screening alone results in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $3,559 ($- 965-$8,082) when compared to mammographic imaging (p < 0.05). ABUS screening alone is more likely to be cost-effective for a willingness-to-pay of less than $7,100.

Conclusions: The addition of ABUS to mammographic imaging is a cost-effective screening strategy in women with increased breast density or who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer. ABUS imaging alone is also a cost-effective strategy in this population, particularly in resource-poor areas.