Report from ASCO: Studies reveal pros and cons of breast MRI

October 6, 2008 Report from ASCO: Studies reveal pros and cons of breast MRI Don Rauf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MRI's changing status as an instrument for breast cancer diagnosis and evaluation was apparent last month at the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. One study suggested that MR's growing popularity for treatment planning may had led to more mastectomies, and another trial added to growing evidence about its ability to identify metastatic lymph nodes. The mastectomy findings arose from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Lead author Dr. Richard Bleicher, codirector of Fox Chase's breast surgery fellowship program, reported that women who received an MRI had an 80% higher chance of having a mastectomy rather than a breast-conserving lumpectomy. The findings were drawn from the medical records of 577 breast cancer patients, 130 of whom had MRIs prior to treatment.

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