Identifying and Managing Patients with Elevated Breast Cancer Risk Presenting for Screening Mammography

Identifying the prevalence and management of patients at high-risk for breast cancer can improve resource utilization and provide individualized screening strategies.

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of high-risk patients in our institution who presented for screening mammography and to understand how they utilized downstream resources offered to them.

This single institution retrospective study utilized the Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment model to provide lifetime risk of breast cancer of patients presenting for screening mammography over a one-year period. Their subsequent management and resource utilization were collated.

High-risk patients comprised 7.7% (701/9061) of our screening population. Of those high-risk women offered a Breast Center (BC) consultation, 75.2% (276/367) participated in the consultation, with 51.1% (141/276) of those patients completing MRI for supplemental screening. Risk reducing medication was adopted by 7.6% (6/79) of those offered. Of patients offered a genetics consultation, 66.3% (53/80) participated in the consultation, and 50.0% (40/80) completed genetic testing.

Identifying and understanding high-risk patient cohorts, whether locally or in a population-based context, is important for individualized patient care and practice efficiency.