Dr. Vivek Kalra and colleagues explored the cost-effectiveness of breast screening using combined DBT and FFDM compared to FFDM alone, based on direct costs resulting from differences in the recall rate. The team calculated screening recall rates for combined DBT/FFDM studies and FFDM alone for a five-month period, then assessed the direct costs of these studies using regional Medicare reimbursement data. The study did not consider downstream direct costs, indirect costs, and intangible costs.
The group included data from 5,780 patients, 1,602 of whom had combined DBT/FFDM screening mammograms and 4,178 of whom had FFDM alone. The combined DBT/FFDM group had an overall recall rate of 7%, while the FFDM group had a recall rate of 10.9%. In addition, combined DBT/FFDM exams had a better cancer detection rate than FFDM alone, at 5.6 per 1,000 women, compared with 3.4 per 1,000 women.
Because combining DBT with FFDM reduces recall rates and improves cancer detection, Kalra's group concluded that it is preferable to FFDM alone for screening mammography.
