The proportion of patients treated for invasive carcinoma or an advanced stage of the disease have both leapt in recent years, experts wrote in Clinical Imaging.
The ratings agency first issued its downgrade in July, citing the risk of prolonged business impact from COVID-19 and uncertainty around radiology's future.
Growing imaging workloads and clear patient benefits should encourage rads to see this as an opportunity rather than a turf threat, two experts argued in a new editorial.
Being between the ages of 55-64 or 75-79, living in a rural area, and using Medicaid or fee-for-service Medicare were all associated with lower adherence.
“One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we already see the consequences of pandemic-driven drops in cancer screening and diagnostics," ASTRO Chair Thomas Eichler, MD, said.