COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF RESCREENING CONVENTIONALLY PREPARED CERVICAL SMEARS BY PAPNET TESTING

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the cost-effectiveness of the use of PA PNET testing-supplemental, neural network-based testing used to increa se the accuracy of cervical smear screening practice. STUDY DESIGN: Us ing a model adapted from one developed under contract from the United States Congress Office of Technology Assessment to evaluate cost-effec tiveness of cervical cancer screening in elderly women, the study eval uated U.S. women aged 20-64. The study reviewed various screening inte rvals and examined the course of follow-up (i.e., repeat abnormal smea r vs. immediate colposcopy) to offer a range into which most routine m edical practice will fall. RESULTS: Assuming a false negative rate of 25% for low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) and 15% for hi gh grade SIL and applying increased sensitivity of 30% from PAPNET, we can expect a cost of $48,474 per life-year saved among biennially scr eened women. For women screened triennially, Its recommended by most g roups, the cost per life-year saved is $25,185. CONCLUSION: The PAPNET rescreening program is an economical approach to decreasing mortality and morbidity from cervical cancer and compares favorably to other co mmonly used interventions and diagnostic procedures.