Cost-effectiveness of MRI strategies for early prostate cancer detection: a systematic review

The objective of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different Magnetic Resonance Imaging strategies for the early detection of prostate cancer. A comprehensive search was conducted up to 15 December 2024, utilizing databases such as PubMed and Scopus. The focus was on full economic evaluations, excluding non-English articles and reviews. The quality of the studies was assessed using the QHES checklist. The following data were extracted: settings, interventions, populations, types of economic evaluations, health outcomes, costs, and ICERs. Of the 110 articles that were assessed, 9 were selected for qualitative analysis, resulting in an overall high-quality score. The findings demonstrated that the range of MRI costs applied differed across countries. While the financial implications of non-screening are comparatively lower, the effectiveness of using screening strategies for early detection of cancer is superior to that of non-screening. Specifically, MRI was found to be more cost-effective than conventional methods. The utilization of MRI prior to biopsy has the potential to reduce unnecessary procedures while enhancing clinical cancer detection. The economic viability of integrating advanced MRI techniques into prostate cancer screening is demonstrated, leading to enhanced patient outcomes by facilitating early detection and minimizing overtreatment. PROSPERO (CRD42024572261)