Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the Screening of High-Risk Patients and in the Detection and Diagnosis of Early Breast Cancer

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Breast Cancer, a Heterogeneous Disease Entity

Abstract

The screening of individuals at high risk of breast cancer has become an important issue in recent years. Since this population consists mostly of young women with dense breasts, new modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) have been evaluated, and MRI screening has been implemented in some countries, because of its higher sensitivity and specificity than those of conventional mammography in the sceening of dense breasts. MRI is the most sensitive method for the detection of invasive breast cancers, and provides the best assessment of the extent of the disease, multifocality, bilaterality, an extensive intraductal component (especially ductal carcinoma in situ without microcalcifications), and the involvement of skin, the pectoral muscle or the chest wall. After the diagnosis of breast cancer, MRI is able to detect additional foci in the same or in the contralateral breast in up to 24% of the cases, which frequently results in changes in the therapy plan. MRI is also a successful imaging method for the detection of residual and recurrent disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abe H, Schmidt RA, Shah RN et al (2010) MR-directed (“second-look”) ultrasound examination for breast lesions detected initially on MRI: MR and sonographic findings. Am J Roentgenol 194:370–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afonso N (2009) Women at high risk for breast cancer—what the primary care provider needs to know. J Am Board Fam Med 22:43–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Altekruse SF, Kosary CL, Krapcho M et al (2007) SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2007, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2007/

  • Amir E, Evans DG, Shenton A et al (2003) Evaluation of breast cancer risk assessment packages in the family history evaluation and screening programme. J Med Genet 40:807–814

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Antoniou A, Pharoah PD, Narod S et al (2003) Average risks of breast and ovarian cancer associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations detected in case series unselected for family history: a combined analysis of 22 studies. Am J Hum Genet 72:1117–1130

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Antoniou AC, Pharoah PP, Smith P, Easton DF (2004) The BOADICEA model of genetic susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer. Br J Cancer 91:1580–1590

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arpino G, Laucirica R, Elledge RM (2005) Premalignant and in situ breast disease: biology and clinical implications. Ann Intern Med 143:446–457

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow WE, White E, Ballard-Barbash R et al (2006) Prospective breast cancer risk prediction model for women undergoing screening mammography. J Natl Cancer Inst 98:1204–1214

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beral V (2003) Breast cancer and hormone-replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. Lancet 362:419–427

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berg W (2009) Tailored supplemental screening for breast cancer: what now and what next? Am J Roentgenol 192:390–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berry DA, Iversen ES, Gudbjartsson DF et al (2002) BRCAPRO validation, sensitivity of genetic testing of BRCA1/BRCA2, and prevalence of other breast cancer susceptibility genes. J Clin Oncol 20:2701–2712

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bone B, Pentek Z, Perbeck L, Veress B (1997) Diagnostic accuracy of mammography and contrast-enhanced MR imaging in 238 histologically verified breast lesions. Acta Radiol 38:489–496

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brennan M, Houssami N, Lord SJ et al (2009) MRI screening of the contralateral breast in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer: systematic review and metaanalysis of incremental cancer detection and impact on surgical management. J Clin Oncol 27:5640–5649

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carbognin G, Girardi V, Calciolari C et al (2010) Utility of second-look ultrasound in the management of incidental enhancing lesions detected by breast MR imaging. Radiol Med (DOI 10.1007/s11547-010-0561-9)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortesi L, Turchetti D, Marchi I et al (2006) Breast cancer screening in women at increased risk according to different family histories: an update of the Modena Study Group experience. BMC Cancer 6:210–218

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dibble SL, Roberts SA, Nussey B (2004) Comparing breast cancer risk between lesbians and their heterosexual sisters. Womens Health Issues 14:60–68

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Euhus DM, Smith KC, Robinson L et al (2002) Pretest prediction of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation by risk counselors and the computer model BRCAPRO. J Natl Cancer Inst 94:844–851

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans DGR, Howell A (2007) Breast cancer risk-assessment models. Breast Cancer Res 9:213–221

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forrai G, Szabó É, Ormándi K et al (2010) A képalkotó vizsgálómódszerek alkalmazása az emlődaganatok korszerű diagnosztikájában és szűrésében. II. Kecskeméti Konszenzus Konferencia. Magyar Radiológia 84:45–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank TS, Deffenbaugh AM, Rei JE et al (2002) Clinical characteristics of individuals with germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2: analysis of 10,000 individuals. J Clin Oncol 20:1480–1490

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gail MH, Costantino JP (2001) Validating and improving models for projecting the absolute risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 93:334–335

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gail MH, Brinton LA, Byar DP et al (1989) Projecting individualized probabilities of developing breast cancer for white females who are being examined annually. J Natl Cancer Inst 81:1879–1886

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen J (2001) Increased breast cancer risk among women who work predominantly at night. Epidemiology 12(1):74–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heyes GJ, Mill AJ, Charles MW (2009) Mammography-oncogenecity at low doses. J Radiol Prot 29:123–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heywang SH, Fenzl G, Edmaier M et al (1985) Kernspintomographie in der Mammadiagnostik. Fortschr Röntgenstr 143:207–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heywang-Kobrunner SH, Heinig A, Schaumloeffel-Schulze U et al (1999) MR-guided percutaneous excisional and incisional biopsy of breast lesions. Eur Radiol 9:1656–1665

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heywang-Köbrunner SH, Bick U, Bradley WG et al (2001) International investigation of breast MRI: results of a multicentre study (11 sites) concerning diagnostic parameters for contrast-enhanced MRI based on 519 histopathologically correlated lesions. Eur Radiol 11:531–546

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoogterbrugge N, Bult P, de Widt-Levert LM et al (2003) High prevalence of premalignant lesions in prophylactically removed breasts from women at hereditary risk for breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 21:41–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houssami N, Hayes DF (2009) Review of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in breast cancer: should MRI be performed on all women with newly diagnosed, early stage breast cancer? CA Cancer J Clin 59:290–302

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Houssami N, Irwig L, Simpson JM, McKessar M (2003) Sydney breast imaging accuracy study: Comparative sensitivity and specificity of mammography and sonography in young women with symptoms. Am J Roentgenol 180:935–940

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser W (1985) MRI of the female breast. First clinical results. Arch Int Physiol Biochim 93:67–76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kotsopoulos J, Lubinski J, Neuhausen SL et al (2006) Hormone replacement therapy and the risk of ovarian cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Gynecol Oncol 100:83–88

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kriege M, Brekelmans CTM, Boetes C et al (2004) Efficacy of MRI and mammography for breast-cancer screening in women with a familial or genetic predisposition. N Engl J Med 351:427–437

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kriege M, Brekelmans CT, Boetes C et al (2006a) Differences between first and subsequent rounds of the MRISC breast cancer screening program for women with a familial or genetic predisposition. Cancer 106:2318–2326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kriege M, Brekelmans CT, Obdeijn IM et al (2006b) Factors affecting sensitivity and specificity of screening mammography and MRI in women with an inherited risk for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 100:109–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhl CK (2002) High-risk screening: multi-modality surveillance of women at high risk for breast cancer (proven or suspected carriers of a breast cancer susceptibility gene). J Exp Clin Cancer Res 21(Suppl 3):S103–S106

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhl CK, Elevelt A, Leutner CC et al (1997) Interventional breast MR imaging: clinical use of a stereotactic localization and biopsy device. Radiology 204:667–675

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhl CK, Traber F, Schild HH (2008) Whole-body high-field-strength (3.0-T) MR imaging in clinical practice. Breast Cancer Res 10(Suppl 3):P3

    Google Scholar 

  • Law J (1997) Cancers detected and induced in mammography: new screening schedules young women. Br J Radiol 70:62–69

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leach MO, Eeles RA, Turnbull LW et al (2002) The UK national study of magnetic resonance imaging as a method of screening for breast cancer (MARIBS). J Exp Clin Cancer Res 21(Suppl 3):S107–S114

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee SG, Orel SG, Woo IJ et al (2003) MR imaging screening of the contralateral breast in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer: preliminary results. Radiology 226:773–778

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lerman C, Daly M, Masny A et al (1994) Attitudes about genetic testing for breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility. J Clin Oncol 12:843–850

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis-Jones HG, Whitehouse GH, Leinster SJ (1991) The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of local recurrent breast carcinoma. Clin Radiol 43:197–204

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liberman L, Morris EA, Kim CM et al (2003) MR imaging findings in the contralateral breast in women with recently diagnosed breast cancer. Am J Roentgenol 180:333–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch HT, Silva E, Snyder C, Lynch JF (2008) Hereditary breast cancer: Part I. Diagnosing hereditary breast cancer syndromes. Breast J 14:3–13

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann RM, Hoogeveen YL, Blickman JG (2008) MRI compared to conventional diagnostic work-up in the detection and evaluation of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast: a review of existing literature. Breast Cancer Res Treat 107:1–14

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell G, Antoniou AC, Warren R et al (2006) Mammographic density and breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Cancer Res 66:1866–1872

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris E, Liberman L (2005) Breast MRI: diagnosis and intervention. Springer Science, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris EA, Schwartz LH, Drotman MB et al (2000) Evaluation of pectoralis major muscle in patients with posterior breast tumors on breast MRI: early experience. Radiology 214:67–72

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris EA, Liberman L, Ballon DJ et al (2003) MRI of occult breast carcinoma in a high risk population. Am J Roentgenol 181:619–626

    Google Scholar 

  • Mountforda C, Ramadana S, Stanwella P et al (2009) Proton MRS of the breast in the clinical setting. NMR Biomed 22:54–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2009) Practice guidelines in oncology—genetic/familial high-risk assessment: breast and ovarian. www.nccn.org

  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (October 2006) www.nice.org.uk

  • NBCG behandlinsanbefalinger, Blåboka, Arvelig brystkreft. http://www.nbcg.no

  • Ng AK, Travis LB (2009) Radiation therapy and breast cancer risk. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 7:1121–1128

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perlet C, Heinig A, Prat X et al (2002) Multicenter study for the evaluation of a dedicated biopsy device for MR-guided vacuum biopsy of the breast. Eur Radiol 12:1463–1470

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Podo F, Sardanelli F, Canese R et al (2002) The Italian multi-centre project on evaluation of MRI and other imaging modalities in early detection of breast cancer in subjects at high genetic risk. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 21(Suppl 3):S115–S124

    Google Scholar 

  • Prentice RL, Caan B, Chlebowski RT et al (2006) Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of invasive breast cancer: the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled dietary modification trial. JAMA 295:629–642

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quan ML, Sclafani L, Heerdt A et al (2003) Magnetic resonance imaging detects unsuspected disease in patients with invasive lobular cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 10:1048–1053

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quillin JM, Fries E, McClish D et al (2004) Gail model risk assessment and risk perceptions. J Behav Med 27:205–214

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rockhill B, Spiegelman D, Byrne C et al (2001) Validation of the Gail et al. model of breast cancer risk prediction and implications for chemoprevention. J Natl Cancer Inst 93:358–366

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sardanelli F, Giuseppetti GM, Canavese G et al (2008) Indications for breast magnetic resonance imaging. Consensus document “Attualità in senologia”, Florence 2007. Radiol Med 113:1085–1095

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saslow D, Boetes C, Burke W et al (2007) American Cancer Society guidelines for breast screening with MRI as an adjunct to mammography. CA Cancer J Clin 57:75–89

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schairer C, Lubin J, Troisi R et al (2000) Menopausal estrogen and estrogen–progestin replacement therapy and breast cancer risk. JAMA 283:485–491

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwab SA, Uder M, Schulz-Wendtland R (2008) Direct MR galactography: feasibility study. Radiology 249:54–61

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Brawley OW (2009) Cancer screening in the United States, 2009: a review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and issues in cancer screening. CA Cancer J Clin 59:27–41

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsushima Y, Takahashi-Taketomi A, Endo K (2009) Magnetic resonance (MR) differential diagnosis of breast tumors using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on 1.5-T. J Magn Reson Imaging 30:249–255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh T, Casadei S, Coats KH et al (2006) Spectrum of mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, and TP53 in families at high risk of breast cancer. JAMA 295:1379–1388

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warner E, Plewes DB, Shumak RS et al (2001) Comparison of breast magnetic resonance imaging, mammography, and ultrasound for surveillance of women at high risk for hereditary breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 19:3524–3531

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warren R, Ciatto S, Macaskill P et al (2009) Technical aspects of breast MRI—do they affect outcomes? Eur Radiol 19:1629–1638

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wrensch MR, Petrakis NL, Miike R et al (2001) Breast cancer risk in women with abnormal cytology in nipple aspirates of breast fluid. J Natl Cancer Inst 93:1791–1798

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yankaskas BC, Haneuse S, Kapp JM (2010) Performance of first mammography examination in women younger than 40 years. J Natl Cancer Inst 102:668–669

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, State Health Centre, Róbert Károly krt. 44, 1134, Budapest, Hungary

    Gábor Forrai

Authors
  1. Gábor Forrai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gábor Forrai .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , University of Szeged, Department of Oncotherapy, Korányi fasor 12, Szeged, 6720, Hungary

    Zsuzsanna Kahán

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Forrai, G. (2011). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the Screening of High-Risk Patients and in the Detection and Diagnosis of Early Breast Cancer. In: Kahán, Z. (eds) Breast Cancer, a Heterogeneous Disease Entity. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0489-3_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation