Prediction of incomplete screening mammograms based on age and race

Objective: this study examined the age-associated rate of incomplete mammograms requiring additional testing based on breast imaging-reporting and data system (birads) score. methods: a retrospective,observational study design from a tertiary medical center was used to evaluate which explanatory variables significantly predicted whether a woman had an incomplete mammogram. an incomplete mammogram was defined as a birads score of 0 (requiring further imaging),whereas a benign process was defined as a birads score of 1 or 2. explanatory variables included traditional clinical factors (age,race,and menopausal state). results: during the study period,20,269 subjects were evaluated. the majority of the patients were white (n = 12,955; 64.6%) and had a birads score consistent with a benign finding (n = 17,571; 86.6%). premenopausal state (odds ratio [or],1.38; 95% ci,1.27-1.50),white race (or,1.18; 95% ci,1.08-1.29),and younger age (or,1.38; 95% ci,1.27-1.50) significantly increased the odds a woman had an incomplete study. conclusions: in this cross-sectional,single-institution analysis,premenopausal state and white race are associated with an increased rate for incomplete mammograms. patients should be counseled appropriately before the initiation of screening.