New evidence suggests that women who are at high risk for breast cancer may benefit from MRI. The panel convened by the ACS says in addition to mammography, annual screening using MRI is recommended for women who:

• have a BRCA 1 or 2 mutation
• have a first-degree relative with a BRCA 1 or 2 mutation and are untested
• have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 20-25 percent or more using standard risk assessment models*
• received radiation treatment to the chest between ages 10 and 30, such as for Hodgkin's disease
• carry or have a first-degree relative who carries a genetic mutation in the TP53 or PTEN genes (Li-Fraumeni syndrome and Cowden and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndromes).

A personal history of breast cancer alone does not warrant screening with MRI. Breast MRI has a low specificity for cancer which leads to many more false positive results than mammography. Experts stress how imperative it is to carefully select those women who should be screened using this technology. A researched risk model such as BRCAPRO, Claus model or the Gail model should be used to determine a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer.

Since January 2006, St. John’s Breast Center in collaboration with St. John’s MRI department has provided breast MRI for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer to help determine the extent of the disease. Selection criteria have been carefully monitored to assure appropriate use of the technology.

The Breast Center will incorporate the new screening guidelines into its breast MRI protocols. A risk model will be utilized as part of the selection criteria. More details will be provided as the protocols become finalized in the fall.   

Read more about St. John's Breast Center