Rads grow lead in breast biopsy procedures

Dear AuntMinnie Member,

Radiologists seem to have been on the losing end of most turf battles lately, but in one area they are actually expanding their control: breast biopsy procedures.

That's according to a review of Medicare claims data performed by physician self-referral watchdog Dr. David Levin of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. We report on Dr. Levin's findings in an article by staff writer Shalmali Pal featured this week in our Women's Imaging Digital Community.

In reviewing Medicare claims data from 1999-2003, Dr. Levin's group found strong growth in the overall utilization rate of breast biopsy, and determined that well over half of all biopsies were being performed by radiologists.

Drilling into the data further, the group found that radiologists grabbed an increasing share of breast biopsies during the survey period. In addition, nearly three-fourths of biopsies that used imaging guidance were performed by radiologists.

Levin believes that the reason for radiology's success in breast biopsy could provide some valuable lessons for how the specialty can retain turf in other areas currently under siege by physician self-referral. Get the rest of the story by clicking here, or visit the Women's Imaging Digital Community at women.auntminnie.com.