Preventing Unnecessary Breast Biopsies Using MRI
By MedImaging International staff writers Posted on 30 Sep 2015 |
The results of a new study have shown that a new Magnetic Resonance (MR) breast imaging technique could prevent unnecessary biopsies.
The new technique, called Diffusion-Weighted Imaging with Background Suppression Magnetic Resonance Mammography (DWIBS-MRM), can be used to assess the diffusion of water molecules within tissue. Diffusion could be restricted by malignant tumors for example. The results of the study were published in the online version of the journal Radiology.
DWIBS-MRM could be used to provide additional information for clinicians about suspicious findings discovered during X-Ray mammography screening. Conventional X-Ray mammography in itself can save lives, but often results in a high false-positive rate that leads to unnecessary biopsies.
DWIBS-MRM uses an abbreviated MR breast imaging protocol, and does not require the use of a contrast agent. The protocol shows the shape, and appearance of the lesion, and its biophysiological properties. A full breast MR protocol takes more than 30 minutes, while DWIBS-MRM images take less than 7 minutes, with a mean reading time of less than 30 seconds.
The study included 50 women with suspicious screening mammograms, and an indication for biopsy. The researchers compared a full diagnostic breast MR protocol, abbreviated contrast-enhanced MRI, and the new DWIBS-MRM technique. A breast carcinoma was found in 24 women.
The DWIBS-MRM technique was found to be as accurate as abbreviated contrast-enhanced and full diagnostic MRI protocols and resulted in a negative predictive value of 92%. However none of the MR techniques were able to detect pure microcalcification-related Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ (DCIS), without solid tumor.
Lead author of the study, Sebastian Bickelhaupt, MD, radiologist, German Cancer Research Center (Heidelberg, Germany), said, “If the preliminary findings are confirmed, this approach could have a high potential to be used as an adjunct in the clarification process of unclear lesions on X-Ray mammography in breast cancer screening. This might help to reduce the number of invasive biopsies and the related anxiety in women who have suspicious findings at mammography.”
Related Links:
Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
German Cancer Research Center
The new technique, called Diffusion-Weighted Imaging with Background Suppression Magnetic Resonance Mammography (DWIBS-MRM), can be used to assess the diffusion of water molecules within tissue. Diffusion could be restricted by malignant tumors for example. The results of the study were published in the online version of the journal Radiology.
DWIBS-MRM could be used to provide additional information for clinicians about suspicious findings discovered during X-Ray mammography screening. Conventional X-Ray mammography in itself can save lives, but often results in a high false-positive rate that leads to unnecessary biopsies.
DWIBS-MRM uses an abbreviated MR breast imaging protocol, and does not require the use of a contrast agent. The protocol shows the shape, and appearance of the lesion, and its biophysiological properties. A full breast MR protocol takes more than 30 minutes, while DWIBS-MRM images take less than 7 minutes, with a mean reading time of less than 30 seconds.
The study included 50 women with suspicious screening mammograms, and an indication for biopsy. The researchers compared a full diagnostic breast MR protocol, abbreviated contrast-enhanced MRI, and the new DWIBS-MRM technique. A breast carcinoma was found in 24 women.
The DWIBS-MRM technique was found to be as accurate as abbreviated contrast-enhanced and full diagnostic MRI protocols and resulted in a negative predictive value of 92%. However none of the MR techniques were able to detect pure microcalcification-related Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ (DCIS), without solid tumor.
Lead author of the study, Sebastian Bickelhaupt, MD, radiologist, German Cancer Research Center (Heidelberg, Germany), said, “If the preliminary findings are confirmed, this approach could have a high potential to be used as an adjunct in the clarification process of unclear lesions on X-Ray mammography in breast cancer screening. This might help to reduce the number of invasive biopsies and the related anxiety in women who have suspicious findings at mammography.”
Related Links:
Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
German Cancer Research Center
Latest Radiography News
- Novel Breast Imaging System Proves As Effective As Mammography
- AI Assistance Improves Breast-Cancer Screening by Reducing False Positives
- AI Could Boost Clinical Adoption of Chest DDR
- 3D Mammography Almost Halves Breast Cancer Incidence between Two Screening Tests
- AI Model Predicts 5-Year Breast Cancer Risk from Mammograms
- Deep Learning Framework Detects Fractures in X-Ray Images With 99% Accuracy
- Direct AI-Based Medical X-Ray Imaging System a Paradigm-Shift from Conventional DR and CT
- Chest X-Ray AI Solution Automatically Identifies, Categorizes and Highlights Suspicious Areas
- AI Diagnoses Wrist Fractures As Well As Radiologists
- Annual Mammography Beginning At 40 Cuts Breast Cancer Mortality By 42%
- 3D Human GPS Powered By Light Paves Way for Radiation-Free Minimally-Invasive Surgery
- Novel AI Technology to Revolutionize Cancer Detection in Dense Breasts
- AI Solution Provides Radiologists with 'Second Pair' Of Eyes to Detect Breast Cancers
- AI Helps General Radiologists Achieve Specialist-Level Performance in Interpreting Mammograms
- Novel Imaging Technique Could Transform Breast Cancer Detection
- Computer Program Combines AI and Heat-Imaging Technology for Early Breast Cancer Detection