Advances in Breast MRI: Case Studies
Breast imaging with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1991 to help detect breast cancer when used in conjunction with mammography. Breast MRI uses powerful magnetic fields and radiowaves to achieve views in any plane and from any orientation. MRI may be used as a problem-solving exam when a breast abnormality is detected by mammogram or physical exam. Because breast MRI has excellent contrast resolution, it is highly sensitive to small lesions. This article illustrates the latest advances in MRI breast imaging with specific cases studies.
Study Finds MRI Effective at Screening Younger Women at High Breast Cancer Risk
(August 8, 2001)
A new study finds that screening younger women at high risk of breast cancer with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be highly effective at detecting the disease. In fact, in the study, MRI was more accurate than mammography in screening this population of women for breast cancer. While mammography is the only exam approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for breast cancer in women with no signs of the disease (such as a breast lump), MRI could one day become an established supplemental screening exam for young women who have a strong family history of breast cancer or other factors that put them at high risk of the disease. (MRI is now FDA approved as a diagnostic tool to evaluate breast abnormalities found with another exam).
Another Digital Mammography System Receives FDA Approval
October 11, 2001
A digital mammography system made by Fischer Imaging has received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help detect breast cancer.
Previously, General Electric (GE) was the only company with an FDA-approved digital mammography system. Digital mammography uses essentially the same mammography system as conventional mammography, but the system is equipped with a digital receptor and a computer instead of a film cassette. Digital mammography has the potential to offer several advantages over standard film mammography, including faster image acquisition, improved contrast between dense and non-dense breast tissue, ability to correct under or over-exposure of mammography films, etc.
For more about digital mammography, click here.
