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Cost Analysis Model: US versus Endometrial Biopsy in Evaluation of Peri- and Postmenopausal Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, University of Washington (J.R.M.); and the Department of Radiology, University of Washington Harborview Medical Center (T.J.D.), Box 359728, 325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104-2499. From the 2000 RSNA scientific assembly. Received November 13, 2000; revision requested January 9, 2001; final revision received August 27; accepted September 19. Address correspondence to T.J.D. (e-mail: tdub@u.washington.edu).

PURPOSE: To develop a cost minimization analysis model from the societal perspective of Medicare reimbursement to determine whether endometrial biopsy or transvaginal ultrasonography (US) is less expensive in evaluating peri- and postmenopausal women with abnormal vaginal bleeding and to assess whether this strategy is equally effective in populations at low and high risk for endometrial carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical algorithms were constructed that detailed diagnostic evaluation of the target population by using office-based endometrial biopsy versus transvaginal US as starting points. An economic model based on Medicare reimbursement and average wholesale drug price data and using disease prevalences and modality sensitivities from the scientific literature was then created to examine common bleeding causes in this population. All models included the cost of obtaining a tissue diagnosis for focal or diffuse endometrial thickening found at US. Modality sensitivities and prevalences of disease states were varied within the model to discover limits at which each modality became cheaper versus the other for assessing a population of women.

RESULTS: Population prevalence of neoplastic disease is the principal factor governing total cost between competing diagnostic algorithms. In populations with 31% or less combined prevalence of endometrial carcinoma/atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, algorithms utilizing transvaginal US as the initial test are most cost minimizing. At combined endometrial carcinoma/atypical adenomatous hyperplasia prevalence of 10%, savings of up to 11% and 16% over pathways initiated with endometrial biopsy are predicted. In populations with a high incidence of neoplastic disease (>31%), biopsy-based algorithms should become least costly.

CONCLUSION: Transvaginal US–initiated triage predicts substantial cost savings versus biopsy-based algorithms in evaluating typical populations of peri- and postmenopausal women with abnormal vaginal bleeding seen in clinical practice.

© RSNA, 2002

Index terms: Economics, medical, 854.1261, 854.12989 • Uterus, biopsy, 854.1261 • Uterus, endometrium, 854.1261, 854.12989 • Uterus, US, 854.12989

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