Access to Breast Cancer Screening: Disparities and Determinants- Expert Panel Narrative Review
Fazeli, Soudabeh ; Narayan, Anand ; Mango, Victoria L ; Wahab, Rifat ; Mehta, Tejas S ; Ojeda-Fournier, Haydee
Student Authors
Faculty Advisor
Academic Program
UMass Chan Affiliations
Document Type
Publication Date
Keywords
Subject Area
Collections
Embargo Expiration Date
Link to Full Text
Abstract
While breast cancer screening reduces mortality, disparities in access continue to limit equitable care. Medically underserved groups-including American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, disabled, and LGBTQ+ individuals-face significant barriers in accessing screening mammography services. This AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review leverages the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework to analyze persistent inequities in screening, focusing on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disabilities, health insurance, and geography. Screening guidelines vary across organizations, complicating access for underserved groups. Legislative efforts, including breast density notification laws and the Find It Early Act, aim to address disparities but remain insufficient. Traditional risk models can yield inconsistent assessments of high-risk status and disparities in appropriate referral for genetic testing and supplemental screening. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) promise to reduce these gaps by improving risk assessment and detection accuracy, although clinical integration requires careful evaluation to avoid exacerbating existing inequities. This article underscores the importance of policies and practices that address the needs of disabled individuals and other marginalized populations, focusing on creating inclusive and effective screening systems. Recommendations are provided to guide future research, policy development, and clinical practices aimed at mitigating disparities in breast cancer screening.
Source
Fazeli S, Narayan A, Mango VL, Wahab R, Mehta TS, Ojeda-Fournier H. Access to Breast Cancer Screening: Disparities and Determinants-AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2024 Nov 27. doi: 10.2214/AJR.24.32151. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39602098.