Advanced Breast Imaging Availability by Screening Facility Characteristics

Rationale and Objectives To determine the relationship between screening mammography facility characteristics and on-site availability of advanced breast imaging services required for supplemental screening and the diagnostic evaluation of abnormal screening findings. Materials and Methods We analyzed data from all active imaging facilities across six regional registries of the National Cancer Institute–funded Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium offering screening mammography in calendar years 2011–2012 ( n = 105). We used generalized estimating equations regression models to identify associations between facility characteristics (eg, academic affiliation, practice type) and availability of on-site advanced breast imaging (eg, ultrasound [US], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and image-guided biopsy services. Results Breast MRI was not available at any nonradiology or breast imaging–only facilities. A combination of breast US, breast MRI, and imaging-guided breast biopsy services was available at 76.0% of multispecialty breast centers compared to 22.2% of full diagnostic radiology practices ( P = .0047) and 75.0% of facilities with academic affiliations compared to 29.0% of those without academic affiliations ( P = .04). Both supplemental screening breast US and screening breast MRI were available at 28.0% of multispecialty breast centers compared to 4.7% of full diagnostic radiology practices ( P