Potential of using mammography screening appointments to identify high-risk women: cross sectional survey results from the national health interview survey

Purpose Mammography screening encounters may represent ideal opportunities to identify high-risk women for risk-based screening. During mammography appointments, radiology practices evaluate breast density and ascertain known breast cancer risk factors. Our purpose was to evaluate the potential for mammographic screening encounters to identify high-risk women by estimating the (1) proportion of high-risk women who report that they have undergone mammographic screening and the (2) proportion of high-risk women who receive recommendations for breast MRI screening. Methods Women ages 30–85 without breast cancer histories were included from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional household survey (response rate 80%). Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool was used to determine high-risk (lifetime risk>20%). Among high-risk women, primary outcome was proportion reporting mammography screening, secondary outcome was receipt of a breast MRI recommendation after recent mammogram, accounting for complex survey design. Results 14,958 women were included. 1.0% were high-risk of whom: 91.9% ever had a mammogram, 68.0% had a mammogram within the last year, 81.5% had a mammogram within the last 2 years. 6.4% were recommended to undergo breast MRI. Among high-risk women, women with dense breast tissue were more likely (OR 496.0, 95%CI 52.6,4674.0) and older women were less likely (OR 0.91, 95%CI 0.84,0.99) to receive recommendations for breast MRI. Conclusions Among high-risk women, 92% reported undergoing at least one mammogram in their lives. 94% did not receive recommendations for breast MRI screening and 32% did not have a mammogram within the last year. To identify high-risk women, breast imaging centers should consider determining lifetime breast cancer risk during mammography screening visits.