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.