Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40684064›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2026

Results from a Swedish model-based analysis of the cost-effectiveness of AI-assisted digital mammography.

Johan Lyth, Pantelis Gialias, Magnus Husberg, Lars Bernfort, Tomas Bjerner, Maria Kristoffersen Wiberg, Lars-Åke Levin, Håkan Gustafsson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Johan Lyth *Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Pantelis Gialias *Department of Radiology in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Magnus HusbergDepartment of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Lars BernfortDepartment of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Tomas BjernerDepartment of Radiology in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Maria Kristoffersen WibergDepartment of Radiology in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Lars-Åke LevinDepartment of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Håkan GustafssonDepartment of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. hakan.l.gustafsson@liu.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6148-1053

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of AI-assisted digital mammography (AI-DM) compared to conventional biennial breast cancer digital mammography screening (cDM) with double reading of screening mammograms, and to investigate the change in cost-effectiveness based on four different sub-strategies of AI-DM. MATERIALS AND

methodsA decision-analytic state-transition Markov model was used to analyse the decision of whether to use cDM or AI-DM in breast cancer screening. In this Markov model, one-year cycles were used, and the analysis was performed from a healthcare perspective with a lifetime horizon. In the model, we analysed 1000 hypothetical individuals attending mammography screenings assessed with AI-DM compared with 1000 hypothetical individuals assessed with cDM.

resultsThe total costs, including both screening-related costs and breast cancer-related costs, were €3,468,967 and €3,528,288 for AI-DM and cDM, respectively. AI-DM resulted in a cost saving of €59,320 compared to cDM. Per 1000 individuals, AI-DM gained 10.8 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared to cDM. Gained QALYs at a lower cost means that the AI-DM screening strategy was dominant compared to cDM. Break-even occurred at the second screening at age 42 years.

conclusionThis analysis showed that AI-assisted mammography for biennial breast cancer screening in a Swedish population of women aged 40-74 years is a cost-saving strategy compared to a conventional strategy using double human screen reading. Further clinical studies are needed, as scenario analyses showed that other strategies, more dependent on AI, are also cost-saving. KEY POINTS: Question To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of AI-DM in comparison to conventional biennial breast cDM screening. Findings AI-DM is cost-effective, and the break-even point occurred at the second screening at age 42 years. Clinical relevance The implementation of AI is clearly cost-effective as it reduces the total cost for the healthcare system and simultaneously results in a gain in QALYs.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceBreast NeoplasmsEarly Detection of CancerMammographyAdultAgedCost-Benefit AnalysisFemaleHealth Care CostsHumansMarkov ChainsMass ScreeningMiddle AgedQuality-Adjusted Life YearsSwedenBreast cancer, Artificial intelligenceCost-effectivenessDigital mammography

Identifiers

PMID40684064
PMCPMC12712019

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.