Related Experiment Videos
The palpable breast nodule. A cost-effectiveness analysis of alternate diagnostic approaches
L J Layfield1, E A Chrischilles, M B Cohen
1Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705.
Background:
Traditionally, open biopsy has been considered the optimal procedure for the diagnosis of breast nodules. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has been proposed as an alternate method for the diagnosis of many palpable breast lesions.
Methods:
The authors compared the diagnostic utility of open biopsy and FNAB using decision tree and cost-effectiveness analyses.
Results:
When compared with two-step excisional biopsy, FNAB achieved a savings of over $700 at the cost of 0.1% decrease in 10-year overall survival.
Conclusions:
These data indicate FNAB to be a reasonable alternative to open biopsy for the diagnosis of palpable breast lesions in many patients.