 |
Frequently Asked Questions
| |
| Q |
Why isn't MRI used more for breast cancer screening? |
| A |
Magnetic
Resonance Imaging has been
around for about two decades,
but has only been used for
the past five years for breast
cancer diagnosis. The high
cost of the procedure and long
examination times have limited
its use. But more importantly,
MRI is just too sensitive to
be used for general screening.
Dr. Lawrence Bassett head of the UCLA Iris Cantor Center
for Breast Imaging noted in
a recent interview on NPR, "It
picks up everything, and there
would be far too many needless
biopsies."
But MRI is effective "once a cancer has been diagnosed,
to determine the extent of the cancer," Bassett says. "That's
because MRI measures areas with particularly high blood
flow, and tumors cause increased blood flow because
they create new blood vessels, which is how they grow."
MRI can also be effective in detecting cancer among
women at high risk ---those with a family history of
the disease and those who have already had breast cancer.
Other ideal candidates for MRI are those women with
dense breasts, scarred tissue from previous beast surgery
or the augmented breast.
Standard mammograms are the first line of defense against
breast cancer. It is recommended that all women 40
years and older receive annual mammographic examinations.
X-rays of the breast are a highly effective and proven
tool in detecting breast cancer, long before a lump
may be felt.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
