Who should consider MRI to examine breast tissue?
MRI can be used to for screening or diagnosis. The ACS recommends annual breast MRI in addition to mammography for women at high risk of breast cancer, which includes those with a strong family history of breast cancer and women who have tested positive for a breast cancer gene mutation. Other women who should consider MRI include those with a history of breast cancer and women with dense breasts or implants. Q: Is MRI better than mammography? MRI is the most sensitive diagnostic tool for breast cancer detection. However, MRI is not perfect. Some cancers can be seen with mammography but not MRI, so mammography is still needed. Breast MRI can detect abnormalities that turn out to be noncancerous about 30 percent of the time, but can require additional testing and possibly biopsy. Check with your insurance company to make sure MRI is covered. This article was published in Vim & Vigor magazine, Fall 2010 edition.
