Work

Recent trends in the utilization of molecular breast imaging in the United States

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess trends in Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) utilization among privately insured women in the United States (U.S.) from 2017 to 2022. METHODS: The utilization of MBI among women aged 25-64 years from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022, was obtained using the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database. MBI utilization was captured from the outpatient services file using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for MBI. RESULTS: During the 6-year retrospective claims analysis, 3024 study-eligible women underwent 3648 MBI exams. The overall trend in MBI utilization was relatively stable from 2017 to 2021, with a 33% reduction in utilization in 2022. The lowest utilization rate was in 2022 at 5.6 per 1000 person-years of observation. Of the women who underwent MBI with sufficient follow-up, 83% underwent only one examination during the study period. CONCLUSION: MBI is consistently underutilized during the study period despite its accuracy, affordability, and safety for diagnosing breast cancer.

Source: Clinical Imaging

DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2026.110728