Role of MRI in screening, diagnosis and management of breast cancer

Abstract

Screening and early diagnosis has an important role in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with breast cancer. Mammography has an established role and has been approved for routine screening. MRI is an emerging tool and has the highest sensitivity of current breast imaging techniques. Although low specificity and high cost of MRI restricted its use in routine screening, it has been increasingly used in the screening of high-risk individuals, diagnosing occult cases, staging and assessing the response to chemotherapy. MRI-guided techniques, including needle-localization biopsy and vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, have a special role in diagnosis and management. This article focuses on the role of MRI in diagnosis, screening and management of breast cancer, and reviews the current indications for breast MRI.