Use of Screening Breast MRI Scans Recommended for Some Women

A U.S. Consensus Committee confirmed that based on the most current information available, screening magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is appropriate for use as an adjunct to mammography, clinical breast examination, and ultrasonography for breast cancer detection in women at high risk of breast cancer.

The American Society of Breast Disease (Dallas, TX, USA) Committee concurred with recently revised guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society (Atlanta, GA, USA) that recommend annual MRI screening based on evidence to include: BRCA mutation, first-degree relatives of BRCA carriers who are untested, and women with a lifetime risk approximately 20% or greater as defined by BRCAPRO or other models that are largely dependent on family history.

The Committee's full statement addresses areas where expert consensus opinion exists and where there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend for or against MRI screening.

Committee chair Steven E. Harms, M.D., Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas, and clinical professor of radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Little Rock, USA) led the Committee's review of current issues in use of breast MRI following the 2007 revision of statements by the American Cancer Society. He noted,` "we support and encourage prospective clinical trials of breast MRI for surveillance of women in other high risk for breast cancer cohorts but with as yet an unproven direct clinical benefit.”

The American Society of Breast Disease is a leading professional medical society in the United States that serves all physicians and allied professionals committed to and advocating an interdisciplinary team approach to breast cancer and disease management, prevention, early detection, treatment, and research. The Society provides professional education programs and advocates for improvements in breast healthcare.


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American Society of Breast Disease