MRI Detects More Breast Cancer in High-risk Women
August 3, 2007 by Gloria Gamat
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been found to detect tumors missed by mammography and ultrasound in women at high-risk for breast cancer.
Such were the findings of a multi-center study that compared the three breast-cancer screening methods.
According to the study’s lead author, Constance Dobbins Lehman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and director of breast imaging at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance:
“Women at high risk for breast cancer can benefit from undergoing screening MRI.
Of all the breast imaging tools we have currently available, MRI is clearly the best at detecting cancer.”
Findings appear in the August issue of the journal Radiology.
I think women at high-risk for breast cancer should take advantage of MRI especially when you kind-a doubt the negative results of mammography and ultrasound.
At least, MRI could serve as a confirmatory diagnosis.
I just wonder which procedure is more expensive?
Find more details from the full report.
MRI by far is the more expensive test, which is why it is not recommended as a routine diagnostic tool for women who are not at higher-than-usual risk for breast cancer.
I suspect that MRI costs more – which makes me wonder, are insurance companies paying for it yet?
i suspected too that MRI is the most expensive screening method. thanks dean for confirming. yes, trisha, i wonder too if insurance companies are paying (or will pay) for MRI.