Cost-effectiveness of stereotactic core needle biopsy: analysis by means of mammographic findings. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • PURPOSE: To determine the cost savings of stereotactic core needle biopsy over open surgical biopsy in patient subgroups defined according to mammographic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1992 through February 1995, stereotactic core needle biopsy was performed in 356 women with 405 nonpalpable breast lesions (254 were masses and 151 were calcification). Lesions were classified according to mammographic finding, size, and level of suspicion. Two hundred three lesions were classified as indeterminate, 166 as suspicious, and 36 as highly suspicious. Medicare reimbursements for 1995 were used to determine costs and cost savings. RESULTS: Overall cost savings for stereotactic core biopsy over open surgical biopsy was $741 per case. Average cost savings per case was $807 for masses and $630 for calcifications. The greatest savings occurred in the cases of indeterminate masses, with an average of $856 saved per case. The least savings occurred in the cases of highly suspicious calcifications, with $446 saved per case. CONCLUSION: Cost savings of stereotactic core needle biopsy vary in subgroups of patients defined according to mammographic findings. Over-all savings will depend on the distribution of patients among these groups. In this series, cost savings were realized with stereotactic core biopsy over open surgical biopsy for all mammographic subgroups.

publication date

  • March 1, 1997

Research

keywords

  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Breast
  • Mammography
  • Stereotaxic Techniques

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0031050910

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1148/radiology.202.3.9051045

PubMed ID

  • 9051045

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 202

issue

  • 3