MRI Finds Breast Cancer Following Conservation Surgery

The researchers performed annual mammography, breast MRI, and breast ultrasonography, for both contralateral (opposite) and conserved breasts during the three-year study.

During the study 17 cancers were diagnosed, of which 13 were stage 0 or stage 1 cancers. The researchers found that when MRI screening was used in addition to mammography, another 3.8 cancers per 1,000 women were discovered. When ultrasonography screening was added to mammography instead of MRI only 2.4 new cancers were detected.

The authors of the study, conclude, "After breast conservation therapy in women 50 years or younger, the addition of MRI to annual mammography screening improves detection of early-stage but biologically aggressive breast cancers at acceptable specificity [correctly identifying people who don’t have disease]. Results from this study can inform patient decision-making on screening methods after breast conservation therapy."

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Seoul National University College of Medicine