Hornberger J, et al. - Authors ascertained the potential cost savings of the pigmented lesion assay (PLA) use vs the visual assessment followed by biopsy and histopathologic assessment (VAH) pathway. They noted a reduction in the cost with the PLA. The care of patients with primary pigmented skin lesions suggestive of melanoma could be improved by this technique.

Methods

• Performed from a US payer perspective, this health economic analysis was based on consensus treatment guidelines and fee schedules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
• They derived the data for model input from routine use of the test in US dermatology practices and literature.
• Patients with primary cutaneous pigmented lesions suggestive of melanoma were included in the participants.
• They analyzed the data from February 8 to December 1, 2017.
• The relative reduction in costs of diagnostic surgical procedures for PLA vs VAH management were consisted in the primary analysis.
• Stage-related treatment costs associated with delays in diagnosis were included in additional analyses.

Results

• Findings suggested that in the cost analysis for this economic model, compared with VAH, the relative reduction in surgical procedure costs (biopsy and subsequent excision), assuming $0 for the PLA to facilitate multiple comparison scenarios, was -$395.
• As per data, compared with VAH, -$433 was the relative reduction in stage-related treatment costs associated with the PLA, primarily associated with avoidance of delays due to false-negative diagnoses.
• Results demonstrated that the surveillance costs were reduced by -$119 with the PLA.
• Researchers noted that $947 was the total cost of fully adjudicating a lesion suggestive of melanoma by VAH .
• They found that at a mean selling price reference point for PLA of $500, cost savings of $447 (47%) per lesion tested could be realized.