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How Accurate Are Breast MRI'S In Detecting Cancer?
Latest Research Shows MRI Images Can’t Tell the Entire Picture

POSTED: 1:13 pm EST December 7, 2004
UPDATED: 1:44 pm EST December 7, 2004

PITTSBURGH -- Can the most advanced and sensitive test for breast
cancer eliminate the need for a breast biopsy in a suspicious area
found on mammogram?

New research shows how much one can rely on a breast MRI.

Breast MRI is an incredible technology which produces beautiful
detailed images. But according to the latest research, these images
cannot tell the entire picture.

“Ya know it’s funny women, they say I think 75% of women get breast
cancer that don’t have a family history, and before my sister was
diagnosed with breast cancer my family didn’t have a family history.
So some women out there think well I don’t have a family history and
then one person gets it and now you have a family history.” Marla, who
does not want to be identified, laments the new situation she’s been
put in…placed in the high risk category for breast cancer. As a
result, she’s being vigilant about getting the optimal examinations to
detect a cancer early should one crop up. She’s getting breast MRI.

Dr. Mark Novick, a radiologist with Manhattan Breast Imaging Center,
says, “MRI is exceedingly valuable in breast cancer detection. It can
find lesions at the smallest possible size, possibly before they are
detectable with mammography, ultrasonography or clinical examination.”

But new research makes an important clarification on what breast MRI
is good for and it is not good for. The study, in the journal of the
American Medical Association, shows breast MRI is good, in fact, very
good at finding an abnormality in the breast tissue. This means the
test is sensitive.

But just because it’s an abnormality doesn’t mean it’s truly a cancer.
So, it’s not specific for cancer. This means, if there is an
abnormality seen, it’s not necessarily bad news. It may not be a
cancer. As a result, the woman must still get a breast biopsy,
according to the study.

“We have no imagining technology at this time which can replace or
supplant the need for biopsy. Imagining is only useful to detect the
presents of areas of suspicion and allow the physicians to sample the
area and have it path, have it evaluated pathologically. Ultimately
biopsy or tissue sampling is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of
cancer or benign disease,” says Dr. Novick.

The researchers found that MRI correctly detected cancer in 356 of 404
cancer cases resulting in a sensitivity of 88 percent…in other words,
it misses 12 percent of cancers in women with suspicious areas on
mammography.

But , only 67 percent of the time does it identify a suspicious lesion
which really is not a cancer as being truly not cancerous…which is why
you need to get a biopsy.

Marla understands if something does show up, it doesn’t mean it’s
cancer…and she recognizes what aggressive screening with MRI can do
for the psyche.

“It’s a simple test, it doesn’t hurt and you know it gives you really
good peace of mind,” says Marla.

Dr. Novick says that certain women will benefit from a combination of
mammography and MRI but it’s not a combination that is suitable for
everybody. Women at high risk, preoperative cancer patients,
postoperative cancer patients, patients with breast implants and a few
others may benefit from breast MRI in addition with mammography.