“Mini” MRI Outperforms 3-D Mammograms in Detecting Cancer in Women With Dense Breasts

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that a new abbreviated MRI is more effective than 3D mammography at detecting cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Allison Aubrey of National Public Radio interviewed radiologist Christopher Comstock, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center about the work.

CHRISTOPHER COMSTOCK: We’ve always known MRI is the most powerful tool for breast cancer screening. But because it’s very expensive and it takes 45 minutes to an hour, it really hasn’t been feasible.

AUBREY: At least not for the wider population. But in recent years, a technique pioneered in Germany reduces the MRI time down to just eight to 10 minutes in the scanner. And Comstock and his collaborators wanted to see if the results of these mini MRIs were as good or better than the results of 3D mammograms. They recruited a bunch of participants, about 1,400 women.

Read the full story and listen to the interview from NPR.