MRI Scans May Help High-Risk Women Avoid Breast Cancer

August 11th, 2007

A German study indicates that women at high-risk for breast cancer can benefit from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans by detecting a nonmalignant tumor called ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS). If the pre-cancerous growth is discovered and removed before it becomes malignant, breast cancer could be prevented. Almost all malignant breast cancer is believed to begin with DCIS.

Because MRI is expensive, about $1,000 to $1,500 per scan, the technology does not yet make sense as a routine screening tool for all women. However, for women who have a strong family history of cancer or a genetic mutation found through testing, MRI can be especially effective. Apart from the expense, MRI has a high rate of false positives – often detecting lesions that are harmless. MRI scanning of breasts should always be paired with mammography, which finds things that MRI doesn’t.

The German study of 7,319 women took place over a five-year period.  MRI scanning found DCIS in 90% of the 167 high-risk women discovered to have the condition, while mammograms detected only 56% of DCIS cases.

Two Dutch researchers involved with the study published their findings and recommendations in Lancet medical journal. They suggested that MRI be tested in more women to determine whether the technology should be used as a standard screening tool. They also noted that autopsy results show 9% of women have undetected DCIS.

The American Cancer Society recommends for women at high risk that MRI screening be performed annually in conjunction with mammography starting at age 30.

About 1.2 million cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually, and each year 500,000 women (and a small percentage of men) die of the disease.
Source: Yahoo News

Entry Filed under: Breast Cancer,Breast Cancer,CANCER,WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE