ACCME Approval: This course is approved by the ACCME. (Release Date: 8/24/2021 Expiration Date: 8/24/2023)
Breast cancer (BC) is a significant healthcare issue, and screening for breast cancer remains one of the most controversial. Mammography screening is still the best approach to reduce the burden of premature death. Balancing the benefits and limitations, as well as the potential harms of mammography and other imaging modalities, along with assessing the patient's risk profile for BC and their preferences, provides the best approach to optimize screening strategies for individual women. This course will examine current screening recommendations and discuss reasons for their differences, how screening tests are assessed, the benefits and limitations of mammography, as well as the impact of combining other imaging modalities with mammography to enhance its predictive value. Other technologies and their potential impact on BC screening will also be discussed.
Over the past decade, women of color and those with lower income or education levels were less likely to receive appropriate BC screening compared with white women and the more educated and affluent. This course will explore how this gap has narrowed over time. Finally, the important role of radiologic technologists and mammographers and what they provide regarding BC screening will also be addressed, as well as how screening requires a personalized approach that integrates patient-specific and age-dependent metrics of cancer risk with selective application of specific screening technologies best suited to the patient's age, risk, and breast density.
DEFINE the performance measures for assessing the validity of a breast cancer screening test.
OUTLINE the differences in breast cancer screening recommendations.
IDENTIFY patient parameters that impact the choice of a breast cancer screening with mammography, sonography, and magnetic resonance imaging.
IDENTIFY risk factors that impact the need for personalized screening.
EXPLAIN how breast density impacts various breast screening technologies.
EXPLAIN when and why different breast screening imaging technologies should be used.
LIST options for optimizing breast cancer screening with mammography.
OUTLINE current approaches to addressing breast density on mammographic screening.
IDENTIFY healthcare disparities in breast cancer screening.
ANALYZE the potential impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination on mammograms.
OUTLINE strategies for radiologic technologists and mammographers to improve breast cancer screening with mammography.
Categories: Mammography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound/Sonography, Professional Development/Patient Care Quality
Submit the completed answers to determine if you have passed the post-test assessment. You must answer 21 out of 28 questions correctly to receive CE credit. You will have no more than 3 attempts to successfully complete the post-test.
AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 3.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Breast Sonography Patient Care 3
Magnetic Resonance Patient Care 1
Magnetic Resonance Procedures 1
Mammography Patient Care 1
Mammography Procedures 2.25
Nuclear Medicine Patient Care 1
Nuclear Medicine Procedures 0.5
Radiation Therapy Patient Care 3
Radiologist Assistant Procedures 3.25
Sonography Patient Care 1
Sonography Procedures 1
Breast Sonography Patient Interactions and Management 3
Magnetic Resonance Body 1
Magnetic Resonance Patient Interactions and Management 1
Mammography Patient Interactions and Management 1
Nuclear Medicine Endocrine and Oncology Procedures 0.5
Nuclear Medicine Patient Interactions and Management 1
Radiation Therapy Patient and Medical Records Management 3
Radiologist Assistant Thoracic Section 3.25
Sonography Patient Interactions and Management 1
Sonography Superficial Structures and Other Sonographic Procedures 1
Linda Giering, PhD*
*Medical Writer, Matawan, New Jersey.
Address correspondence to: Linda Giering, PhD. E-mail: lindagiering@gmail.com.
Disclosure statement: The author reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.