Magnetic Resonance Imaging Useful for Early Breast Cancer

Scan can help improve diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ

FRIDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be helpful in diagnosing ductal carcinoma in situ, particularly cancer with a high nuclear grade, according to study findings published in the Aug. 11 issue of The Lancet.

Christiane Kuhl, M.D., of the University of Bonn in Germany, and colleagues analyzed data on 7,319 women who received both MRI and mammography for diagnostic assessment and screening for breast cancer.

Among the cohort, 193 women were diagnosed with pure ductal carcinoma in situ. In all, 167 women were tested using both methods; 93 (56 percent) were diagnosed by mammography and 153 (92 percent) were diagnosed by MRI. There were 89 cases of high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ, of which 43 (48 percent) were missed by mammography and diagnosed by MRI. Only two cases were missed by MRI and detected by mammography.

There was no difference between those diagnosed by MRI or mammography in terms of age, menopausal status, history of breast cancer, family history and breast density.

Although the authors concede that MRI runs the risk of over-diagnosis, the fact that 60 percent of ductal carcinoma in situ were high grade is significant. "There is broad agreement that the diagnosis of high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ is prognostically relevant and should help prevent the development of invasive cancer," they conclude.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com