The purpose of this study was to examine a conceptual framework for technology development and evaluation, focusing on new breast imaging technologies as a highly visible and current case in point.
Breast imaging technologies for early diagnosis of disease are improving along with treatments that may improve the prognosis [2].
The evidence of effectiveness of diagnostic breast imaging technologies varies.
The NCI has recently funded the Diagnostic Imaging Network which is a multi-institutional network for cooperative studies in diagnostic imaging, including innovative breast imaging technologies.
Historically, breast imaging technologies have followed varying paths from appearing in the peer-reviewed literature to being recommended for use in clinical guidelines.
Although regulatory and reimbursement structures in the United States are generally distinct from other countries, advanced diagnostic breast imaging technologies are commonly used internationally, as shown by recent publications from international research centers investigating the usefulness of diagnostic breast advanced imaging.
This article demonstrates that some of these breast imaging technologies reached widespread use with very little data that they improved breast cancer outcomes, such as reducing recurrence rates or increasing survival time, or decreased costs.
Although CER was not used to evaluate these breast imaging technologies prior to FDA approval, recent publications have reported use of this research to examine diagnostic breast imaging and CER is a vital component in determining international guidelines.
In this article, we trace the chronology of developments in breast imaging technologies that are used for diagnosis and staging of breast cancer, including mammography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography.
Although utilization rates of advanced breast imaging technologies in non-US health systems are likely driven by different factors than those in the United States, research on the most appropriate use of these modalities is lacking and investigations on these evidence gaps would be useful worldwide.
