Despite its comparable performance, molecular breast imaging (MBI) is not used for supplemental imaging as much as MRI or contrast-enhanced mammography.
An MBI exam on average costs less than an MRI and most women have to undergo only one MBI exam. So, where's the love for this modality?
Ria Dave and colleagues recently led a study showing that MBI's use decreased between 2017 and 2022, with a sharp decrease between the final two years of the study. The results also showed that younger women more often avoid MBI while older women (ages 60 to 64) use MBI the most.
Ria Dave outlines challenges in MBI utilization compared to other breast imaging modalities.
Dave joins this episode to speak about these trends, negative connotations surrounding MBI, and opportunities to advance the modality.
Dave is a student in the BA/MD program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a predoctoral research trainee at Washington University in St. Louis. She also shares her post-school plans in breast imaging, including addressing health disparities and following in the footsteps of one of her mentors (and previous MinnieCast guest), Amy Patel, MD.
Watch the full episode below.
