MRI Highly Effective for Breast Cancer Detection

For Release: April 9, 2000

MRI Termed Highly Effective for Breast Cancer Detection

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a highly useful adjunct to mammography for detecting breast cancer early, a national expert in breast imaging reports.

Dr. Susan G. Orel of Philadelphia, PA, made this observation in a presentation at the American College of Radiology's 29th National Conference on Breast Cancer April 9 in San Francisco. Dr. Orel is associate professor of radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

"Clinical investigation shows that MRI is exquisitely sensitive in finding some breast cancers that mammography cannot detect," Dr. Orel says. "Mammography remains the main way to detect breast cancer early, but it doesn't find all cancers. MRI can help locate some hidden cancers."

In addition, MRI can help radiologists and other specialists determine how to treat breast cancer patients by identifying the stage of the disease, she explains. If physicians can be sure of the stage of the breast cancer, she adds, they can better choose the form of treatment that is likely to be the most effective.

"There are also cases where we can't be sure if a patient has breast cancer and MRI can confirm the diagnosis," Dr. Orel says.

Dr. Orel says that MRI can be particularly useful in diagnosing and staging of breast cancer in women with dense breasts or in those who have implants.

Whatever its benefits, she emphasizes, MRI is an addition to and not a replacement for mammography, which remains a highly effective breast cancer screening procedure.

MRI has been evaluated in the United States since 1990 and has traditionally been considered a diagnostic test for breast cancer, Dr. Orel says. "Now, however, we are beginning to conduct clinical studies using MRI as a screening tool for high risk patients, like those with genetic predisposition to the disease or those with breast cancer in one breast."

Because of its cost, it would not be practical to do diagnostic or screening MRI for breast cancer screening for all women, according to Dr. Orel, but clinical trials are looking at the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of MRI in selected diagnostic and screening populations.

The American College of Radiology is a major medical association with more 32,000 members worldwide. The membership includes diagnostic radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists.

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