Contrast-Enhanced Mammography Implementation: Early Struggles and Successes

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Breast Imaging Technologies

Background:

• Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is an emerging breast imaging technique.
• Understanding adoption barriers is crucial for widespread implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers and strategies for contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) adoption.
• To gather insights from radiologists leading CEM implementation.

Main Methods:

• Conducted two focus groups with ten breast imaging radiologists.
• Participants were leaders in CEM implementation from diverse practice types.
• Qualitative analysis identified major themes related to CEM adoption.

Main Results:

• Four major themes emerged: patient selection, workflow, contrast administration, and billing.
• Patient selection varied, influenced by MRI availability and FDA approval status.
• Workflow challenges required site-specific solutions; contrast safety and billing were significant concerns.

Conclusions:

• Successful CEM program implementation demands thorough preparation.
• Addressing patient selection, workflow, contrast management, and billing is essential.
• Training for contrast reactions and mock codes can mitigate concerns.