Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Screening of Woman at High-Risk of Breast Cancer

Abstract

MRI is an excellent option for detection of breast cancer for some selected groups, including those patients with a high probability to hit the disease. However, the high costs and low availability of the device have led to a decline in the application of imaging MRI. The aim of this study was to review usefulness of MRI as a new complementary way to detect breast cancer in routine annual checkup for women breasts of certain ages and breast mass. A cross-sectional Descriptive MRI study was performed on 105 asymptomatic women with a mean age of 49 years. The study group with at least one risk factor of breast cancer were presenting for routine annual screening or follow up at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah. It has been found that, 48 patients had biopsy, they were recommended by magnetic resonance imaging and only 14 had positive results, while magnetic resonance imaging suggested 16 and mammography had 62 positive results. Magnetic resonance imaging is not recommended for the average-risk or the general population either; it had been advised for screening the high-risk women of breast cancer. Sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging has been found to be much higher than of mammography but specificity was generally lower. We propose that it is reasonable to consider MRI as a complement to mammography in screening patients who were at high risk for breast cancer because Magnetic Resonance Imaging can detect small foci that are occult in mammography but we don't advise to check with the general population.

A systematic review of recommendations on screening strategies for breast cancer due to hereditary predisposition: Who, When, and How?

“…Table 1 displays the general characteristics of the included guidelines. Those eligible 13 guidelines 35‐47 from nine countries were produced by 13 agencies published between 2007 and 2019, and included eight updates 35‐38,44‐47 . Most of the guidelines are drawn from Europe, and the United States guidelines account for the largest proportion, reaching 23.08% 38,42,45 .…”

“…Canada, 36 New Zealand, 39 China, Hong Kong, 40 Spain, 41 Switzerland, 43 Japan, 46 and Germany 47 have only one breast cancer screening guideline for gene mutations. Only one guideline indicated the source of funding 36 . Six guidelines (46.15%) clearly stated that the guideline development group included radiologists.…”

“…For BRCA carriers, we summarized the recommendations and found that most of the recommendations are focused on MRI and mammography. NICE, 35 CCO, 36 ARG, 39 CEWG, 40 EUSOMA, 44 ACS, 45 JBCS, 46 and DGGG & DKG 47 recommended to perform MRI screening for BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation carriers, but the recommendations of each guideline were different in the details. NICE 35 recommended annual MRI screening in the 30–45 age group.…”

“…NICE 35 recommended annual MRI screening in the 30–45 age group. CCO 36 recommended MRI and mammography, but there were no restrictions on the age of screening. ARG, 39 CEWG, 40 and DGGG & DKG 47 all recommended MRI, but there were also no restrictions on the age or frequency of screening subjects.…”