Re-evaluation by the second look algorithm could result in a cancer diagnosis up to one year earlier, especially for high risk disease.

The heightened sensitivity of MRI is beneficial in that it allows for earlier detection of cancers, but it also presents challenges for providers tasked with managing patients’ care plans.

Debra L. Monticciolo, MD, past president of both the Society of Breast Imaging and the American College of Radiology, explains the advantages and disadvantages of current breast screening technology.

What’s more, many of the cancers detected were invasive or multifocal, making their detection more timely. 

The scoring system has shown great utility in predicting lymph node invasion in various cancers, but until recently, its use in patients with breast cancer had not been thoroughly explored. 

This latest research further confirms that breast MRI not only detects tumors that mammography cannot, but it also spots invasive cases that pose greater risks to patients. 

Experts, medical organizations and advocates alike are coming forward saying that the new guidelines “do not go far enough,” particularly when it comes to addressing the screening needs of certain patients. 

Applying an edema classification system to preoperative MRI exams provides insight into whether patients' breast cancer will spread.