OBJECTIVES: An innovative diagnostic procedure (MRgFUS) is used for the treatment of uterine fibroids (UF), a disease affecting 13.80% of all ages Italian women. The study aim was a multi-dimensional evaluation of the benefits concerning the introduction of MRgFUS, in comparison with conservative procedures: myomectomy, and uterine artery embolization (UAE).

METHODS: In 2017, a Health Technology Assessment was conducted, considering the Lombardy Region perspective. Data were gathered using specific questionnaires, self-reported interviews and systematically searching medical literature, considering the 9 EUnetHTA dimensions and the MCDA approach.

RESULTS: MRgFUS introduction would lead to: i) a decrease in the adverse events incidence (p-value<0.001); ii) an effectiveness improvement (symptoms’ relief); iii) a best cost-effectiveness trade-off; iv) a significant decrease in the length of hospital stay (p-value<0.001), with the possibility to perform a day-hospital procedure; v) a generation of health migration phenomena; vi) a significant decrease in patients’ productivity loss, reporting a saving of -54.60% compared with surgical procedures (p-value<0.001) and -20.37% compared with UAE (p-value=0.024); vii) an improvement in the quality of life for both patients and caregivers, with a shorter recovery-time period.

While the new equipment introduction, in the short term, requires training courses productivity losses, in the long run, there would be a reduction in the areas described above, thus making it the preferred technology, with an average organisational value of 0.32, followed by UAE (0.12).

Lombardy Region could benefit from economic and organizational advantages with the adoption of MRgFUS into the clinical practice (-6.29%), thus being able to perform, on average, 57,181 additional DRGs, within three years.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that MRgFUS could be considered an advantageous technological alternative in the UF target population, providing a potential overall benefit with its acquisition, thus supporting the definition of a future dedicated national reimbursement tariff.