Abbreviated breast MRI protocols not widely available in areas that would benefit the most
Recently, studies assessing how abbreviated MRI protocols perform in the realm of breast cancer treatment and detection have shown great promise, so why have they yet to achieve far reaching utilization?
Breast MRI has been shown to play a vital role in cancer detection, surgical planning and assessing treatment responses. However, due to limited resources and the high price tag of the exam, it is underutilized in many less developed regions. Research published in Radiology in June addressed these barriers by conducting a comparative analysis between full and abbreviated breast MRI protocols and found that the abbreviated method could decrease the associated costs of the exam while also expanding access in lower resource areas.
While the notion is promising, bringing abbreviated protocols to fruition in underserved areas remains a challenge, according to a first person take from providers at a clinical practice in Bogota, Colombia. In a September 6 Letters to the Editor communication in Radiology, José David Cardona Ortegón, from the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá University Hospital, and colleagues discussed some of the barriers that facilities in underdeveloped countries must overcome in order to implement such protocols.
“The results of abbreviated MRI in breast cancer could be transformed into initiatives that can eventually be included in our clinical practice, with better yields and superior clinical outcomes. Unfortunately, poor infrastructure and health policies do not encourage the use of these diagnostic methods, especially for screening,” the authors explained.
Increasing Awareness of Abbreviated Breast MRI Could Increase Access
Additionally, the authors suggested that the available research on abbreviated protocols does not pertain to low resource areas where they would be especially beneficial. They indicated that simply increasing the awareness surrounding such protocols—particularly within research in these populations—could increase access to the exam in areas such as theirs.
“It is essential to create awareness from similar research projects, extrapolated to our population, to support the use of MRI with abbreviated protocols more widely.”
The full communication can be viewed here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.