Decrease in racial and ethnic disparities seen for same-day diagnostic imaging after abnormal screening mammograms<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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WEDNESDAY, Sept. 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — An immediate-read screening mammography program reduces racial and ethnic disparities in same-day diagnostic imaging after abnormal screening mammograms, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in the American Journal of Roentgenology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Brian N. Dontchos, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues assessed the impact of an immediate-read screening program on disparities in same-day diagnostic imaging after abnormal screening mammograms. The analysis included 8,222 pre-implementation and 7,235 postimplementation screening examinations.<\/p>\n The researchers found that 521 patients in the pre-implementation period and 359 patients in the postimplementation period had abnormal screening examinations, with 14.8 and 60.7 percent of patients, respectively, having same-day diagnostic imaging after abnormal screening mammograms. Compared with White patients during pre-implementation, patients of other races had significantly lower odds of same-day diagnostic imaging after abnormal screening examinations (adjusted odds ratio, 0.30; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.86 P = 0.03), while postimplementation, the odds of same-day diagnostic imaging were not significantly different between races (adjusted odds ratio, 0.92; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.50 to 1.71; P = 0.80). While the abnormal interpretation rate was significantly lower postimplementation than pre-implementation, there was no significant difference in cancer detection. <\/p>\n “An immediate-read screening program provides a new paradigm for improved screening mammography workflow that allows more rapid diagnostic workup with reduced care disparities,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Several authors are <\/span>supported by institutional grant funding from GE Healthcare and Hologic.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n