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The current state of timeliness in the breast cancer diagnosis journey: Abnormal screening to biopsy

Vijayaraghavan, Gopal R.
Guembou, Isabelle M.
Vedantham, Srinivasan
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UMass Chan Affiliations
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2022-11-18
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Abstract

There are several steps involved in a breast cancer diagnosis, starting from the initial abnormal screening mammogram. Each step from the additional imaging to a biopsy provokes anxiety. Timely attention to these appointments will not only help allay anxiety but also provide better care. While breast facilities routinely audit their performance, currently timeliness is not one of the audit parameters. The role of timeliness as a robust quality tool is gaining attention. In this study, we review the timeline of care at our facility over a 1-year period (October 2021- September 2022) and compare them with those reported by National Quality Measures for Breast Centers (NQMBC). Race, ethnicity, location, and type of facility affect the outcome of care and contribute to delays in providing care. In this manuscript, we outline some of the major factors. Societal guidelines outlining some metrics for timeliness may be a useful first step.

Source

Vijayaraghavan GR, Guembou IM, Vedantham S. The current state of timeliness in the breast cancer diagnosis journey: Abnormal screening to biopsy. Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI. Published online November 2022. doi:10.1053/j.sult.2022.11.004

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DOI
10.1053/j.sult.2022.11.004
PubMed ID
36792274
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National Institutes of Health
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