Community partnerships are vital to the success of mobile mammography

Introduction: Mammography is the primary screening tool for breast cancer. The number of FDA-approved stationary mammography units has declined nationally over the last 10 years leaving a significant proportion of women with limited access to mammography. In Arkansas, 26 of 75 counties lack a mammography unit. Materials and Methods: Community health centers, local primary care physicians and other community groups partnered with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to identify individuals in need of access to mammography services. A mobile mammography unit screened 1,472 women in Arkansas who were 40 years of age or older in rural areas geographically remote from stationary mammography units. Individuals whose mammography results required additional imaging workups were referred to medical facilities in the state for follow-up, diagnosis and treatment. Results: The mean age of women who were screened by the mobile unit was 56 years; 37% were minorities. For 16% of women, the screening mammogram in the mobile unit was their first mammogram. Of the 1472 screening mammograms, 1298 (88%) were read as normal and additional views were required for 174 (12%). Fifty biopsies were performed, 14 breast cancers and 7 high risk non-malignant lesions were detected. The incidence of breast cancer cases was 9.6 per 1000 in comparison to the national rate of 2.68 per 1000 (P<0.001). Conclusion: Lack of access to mammography screening leads to a delay in breast cancer detection and treatment. Community partnerships are crucial to effective use of mobile mammography services in underserved communities.