MRI + mammography improves breast cancer detection in high-risk women

In a study headed by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (Philadelphia) and published in JAMA involving 2809 women at 21 clinical centers, the addition of MRI to mammography and ultrasonography increased the detection of breast cancer.  The study subjects had an increased risk of breast cancer and dense breasts, and underwent annual mammography plus ultrasonography for 3 years.  One hundred ten of 2662 women had detectable breast cancer as follows:  33, mammography; 32, ultrasonography; 26, mammography plus ultrasonography; 9, MRI after mammography plus ultrasonography; and 11, missed detection.  The sensitivities for detecting breast cancer of mammography plus ultrasonography, mammography alone, and MRI after mammography plus ultrasonography were 0.76, 0.52, and 1.0, respectively.  The number screened for detection was 127, 234, and 68 for mammography, mammography plus ultrasonography, and MRI after negative mammography plus ultrasonography, respectively.