Trends of Supplemental Screening in Women With Dense Breasts

The objective of this study was to survey current trends in supplemental screening across various practice types and to understand factors that affect these practice patterns.

In this institutional review board-exempt study, a 12-question survey was sent out to ACR lead interpreting physicians. The survey inquired about practice features and the utilization of supplemental screening.

A total of 902 of 4,688 lead interpreting breast imaging physicians (19.2%) responded to our survey. Of those respondents, 617 respondents (68.4%) worked in practices that offered supplemental breast cancer screening. Screening ultrasound was the most commonly utilized supplemental screening modality (53%). There was variability in methods of referral for supplemental screening, with referral through the ordering provider (56%) being the most common. Academic practices, private practices with breast specialization, and practices in the Northeast were more likely to provide supplemental screening (P < .05). There were significant relationships between the presence of state density notification legislation, the number of breast imaging trained radiologists, and the volume of mammographic studies performed per day and the availability of supplemental screening (P < .05). The use of automated breast density assessment software and patient education brochures about density and supplemental screening also had significant relationships with the availability of supplemental screening (P < .05).

The majority of practices surveyed are utilizing supplemental screening, but there is significant variability in the modalities used and the methods of referral. There are practice features that correlate with the availability of supplemental screening, and understanding these features provides further insight into current trends in supplemental screening utilization.