Breast Imaging After Screening Disparities
New BCSC study reveals racial and ethnic differences in the receipt of some diagnostic imaging and biopsy services by women with abnormal screening mammogram results.
A BCSC study published on February 18 in Radiology found that there were racial and ethnic differences in the receipt of some diagnostic imaging and biopsy services by women with abnormal screening mammogram results. Led by Marissa Lawson, MD, MS, from the University of Washington School of Medicine, researchers found that while in most cases, on-site availability of diagnostic imaging and biopsy services did not vary by race and ethnicity or neighborhood-level income, education or rurality, women from racial and ethnic minority groups were less likely to undergo diagnostic evaluation with some technologies.
The study found that Asian and Black women were less likely to undergo diagnostic evaluation with digital breast tomosynthesis within 90 days of an abnormal screening mammogram compared to White women. Similarly, Asian, Black, and Hispanic women were less likely to undergo same-day diagnostic evaluations after an abnormal screening mammogram.
Key findings include:
Among 1,123,177 women undergoing 3,519,502 screening mammograms, on-site availability of diagnostic imaging and diagnostic services was not significantly different across racial and ethnic or socioeconomic groups for most services evaluated
Asian, Black and Hispanic women were less likely to undergo standard-of-care diagnostic imaging within 90 days of an abnormal screening mammogram after multilevel adjustment
Asian, Black and Hispanic women were less likely to receive diagnostic evaluation on the same day as an abnormal screening mammogram after multilevel adjustment
Women living in rural areas were more likely to receive diagnostic evaluation on the same day as an abnormal screening mammogram after multilevel adjustment
Black women were less likely to receive a biopsy on the same day as an abnormal diagnostic evaluation after multilevel adjustment
The study highlights the need for targeted interventions that ensure that all women can fully benefit from screening mammography through appropriate and timely diagnostic breast imaging after receiving abnormal screening results.
Lawson MB, Zhu W, Miglioretti DL, Onega T, Henderson LM, Rauscher GH, Kerlikowske K, Sprague BL, Bowles EJA, O'Meara ES, Tosteson ANA, diFlorio-Alexander RM, Hubbard RA, Lee JM, Lee CI. Disparities in Standard-of-Care, Advanced, and Same-Day Diagnostic Services among Patients with Abnormal Screening Mammography. Radiology. 2025 Feb;314(2):e241673. doi: 10.1148/radiol.241673. PMID: 39964269. [link]
The full article can be found here
The accompanying editorial can be found here:
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By: Marissa Lawson, MD, MS