Researchers Recommend MRI for Supplemental Breast Cancer Screening
By MedImaging International staff writers Posted on 21 Feb 2017 |
Image: A new study indicates women can benefit from MRI screening more than ultrasound for supplemental breast cancer screening (Photo courtesy of Breastlink).
Researchers have shown that MRI screening can improve the early diagnosis of breast cancer for all women, not only those at high risk, and is a useful supplemental screening tool.
The study showed that women at average risk, and those with dense breast tissue, could benefit more from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as a supplemental screening tool than ultrasound.
The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Aachen and published online in the February 2017 issue of the journal Radiology.
Current guidelines limit MRI screening partly because of higher costs, however with the continued high levels of mortality in women from breast cancer improved screening methods are still necessary. MRI is also able of detecting more aggressive types of breast cancer that occur in women – also know as interval cancers – that may affect those with dense breast tissue.
Christiane Kuhl, MD, said, "The faster a cancer grows and the better it is in seeding metastases, the better will it be picked up early by MRI. In our cohort, cancers found by MRI alone exhibited features of rapid growth at pathology. The interval cancer rate in our study was zero percent. Not a single cancer was undetected that became palpable. This suggests that MRI finds breast cancers that also mammography would find, but MRI detects them earlier, and it finds the cancers which, if MRI had not been done, would have progressed to interval cancers."
The study showed that women at average risk, and those with dense breast tissue, could benefit more from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as a supplemental screening tool than ultrasound.
The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Aachen and published online in the February 2017 issue of the journal Radiology.
Current guidelines limit MRI screening partly because of higher costs, however with the continued high levels of mortality in women from breast cancer improved screening methods are still necessary. MRI is also able of detecting more aggressive types of breast cancer that occur in women – also know as interval cancers – that may affect those with dense breast tissue.
Christiane Kuhl, MD, said, "The faster a cancer grows and the better it is in seeding metastases, the better will it be picked up early by MRI. In our cohort, cancers found by MRI alone exhibited features of rapid growth at pathology. The interval cancer rate in our study was zero percent. Not a single cancer was undetected that became palpable. This suggests that MRI finds breast cancers that also mammography would find, but MRI detects them earlier, and it finds the cancers which, if MRI had not been done, would have progressed to interval cancers."
Latest MRI News
- Low-Cost Whole-Body MRI Device Combined with AI Generates High-Quality Results
- World's First Whole-Body Ultra-High Field MRI Officially Comes To Market
- World's First Sensor Detects Errors in MRI Scans Using Laser Light and Gas
- Diamond Dust Could Offer New Contrast Agent Option for Future MRI Scans
- Combining MRI with PSA Testing Improves Clinical Outcomes for Prostate Cancer Patients
- PET/MRI Improves Diagnostic Accuracy for Prostate Cancer Patients
- Next Generation MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Ushers In Future of Incisionless Neurosurgery
- Two-Part MRI Scan Detects Prostate Cancer More Quickly without Compromising Diagnostic Quality
- World’s Most Powerful MRI Machine Images Living Brain with Unrivaled Clarity
- New Whole-Body Imaging Technology Makes It Possible to View Inflammation on MRI Scan
- Combining Prostate MRI with Blood Test Can Avoid Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies
- New Treatment Combines MRI and Ultrasound to Control Prostate Cancer without Serious Side Effects
- MRI Improves Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer
- Combined PET-MRI Scan Improves Treatment for Early Breast Cancer Patients
- 4D MRI Could Improve Clinical Assessment of Heart Blood Flow Abnormalities
- MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Prostate Cancer