title: Stereotactic breast biopsy of noncalcified lesions: a cost-minimization analysis comparing 14-gauge multipass automated core biopsy to 14- and 11-gauge vacuum-assisted biopsy.
abstract: A decision model was used to compare the relative costs of the 14-gauge automated gun technique to the 14-gauge and 11-gauge vacuum-assisted techniques for stereotactic biopsy of noncalcified breast lesions. Probability and cost variables were estimated from clinical experience with 76 automated gun biopsies, seventy-eight 14-gauge vacuum-assisted biopsies and thirty-nine 11-gauge vacuum-assisted biopsies. The 14-gauge automated gun was the preferred strategy from a cost standpoint: the 14-gauge vacuum technique was 1.19 times more expensive, and the 11-gauge was 1.22 times more expensive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Division, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. soo00002@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Mary Scott
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kliewer
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghate
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Helsper
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014618:Vacuum