BACKGROUND
Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is increasingly being used for routine breast cancer screening. We projected the long-term impact and cost-effectiveness of DBT compared to conventional digital mammography (DM) for breast cancer screening in the United States.
METHODS
Three Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) breast cancer models simulated U.S. women aged ≥40 years undergoing breast cancer screening with either DBT or DM starting in 2011 and continuing for the lifetime of the cohort. Screening performance estimates were based on observational data; in an alternative scenario we assumed 4% higher sensitivity for DBT. Analyses used federal payer perspective; costs and utilities were discounted at 3% annually. Outcomes included breast cancer deaths, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), false-positive examinations, costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).
RESULTS
Compared to DM, DBT screening resulted in a slight reduction in breast cancer deaths (range across models 0-0.21/1,000 women), small increase in QALYs (1.97-3.27/1,000 women) and a 24-28% reduction in false-positive exams (237-268/1,000 women) relative to DM. ICERs ranged from $195,026-$270,135/QALY for DBT relative to DM. When assuming 4% higher DBT sensitivity, ICERs decreased to $130,533-$156,624/QALY. ICERs were sensitive to DBT costs, decreasing to $78,731-$168,883 and $52,918-$118,048 when the additional cost of DBT was reduced to $36 and $26 (from baseline of $56), respectively.
CONCLUSION
DBT reduces false-positive exams while achieving similar or slightly improved health benefits. At current reimbursement rates, the additional costs of DBT screening are likely high relative to the benefits gained; however, DBT could be cost-effective at lower screening costs.