Breast MRI effective at detecting cancer: Research

According to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America, breast MRI was more effective at finding cancer”>breast cancer in women with dense breasts than other standard supplemental screening techniques (RSNA). One of the main causes of cancer-related deaths in women is cancer”>breast cancer. Dense breast tissue, a separate risk factor for cancer”>breast cancer, is present in about 47 per cent of American women. More glandular and fibrous connective tissue, as well as less fatty tissue, can be found in the breasts of women who have thick breasts. While screening mammography effectively detects up to 98 per cent of cancer in fatty breasts, cancer”>breast cancer is more easily missed in dense breasts. This results in a negative mammogram, giving patients false reassurance. “Breast cancer masses appear white on a mammogram, and dense tissue also appears white, which makes finding cancer”>breast cancers within dense breast tissue harder for radiologists,” said study co-author Vivianne Freitas, M.D., M.Sc., assistant professor at the University of Toronto, Canada, and staff radiologist at the Joint Department of Medical Imaging in Toronto. Supplemental screening may be required to assist in cancer detection in women with dense breasts. The four most common supplemental imaging tests are hand-held breast ultrasound, automated breast ultrasound, digital breast tomosynthesis, and breast MRI. “Our study was designed to evaluate the role of different supplementary screening tests in women of the average or intermediate risk of cancer”>breast cancer with dense breast tissue who had a negative screening mammogram,” Dr. Freitas said.