New American Cancer Society Guidelines for Breast Screening with MRI in addition to Mammography released March 28th, 2007


The American Cancer Society has convened an expert panel to review new evidence regarding the use of Screening Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for breast cancer. The expert panel reviewed this evidence and defined three levels of risk. These new recommendations are listed below. Please be aware that Screening Breast MRI does not replace mammography, but is considered an additional test. These recommendations are only for screening asymptomatic women, and do not apply to women who have symptoms or signs of breast cancer, including a lump or an abnormality on mammography or ultrasound.

1. MRI Breast Cancer Screening is recommended for women with a lifetime risk of 20 – 25% or greater for developing breast cancer. These include:

  • Women with a breast cancer gene, BRCA1 or 2 (BReast CAncer 1 or 2).
  • Women who are a first degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) of someone with a breast cancer gene.
  • Women who have a lifetime risk of 20-25% based on a breast cancer prediction model determined primarily by family history, such as the BRCAPRO model.
  • Radiation to the chest between age 10 and 30 years (such as is given for Hodgkin's Disease).
  • Various rare syndromes that have a high incidence of breast cancer.

2. There is insufficient evidence to determine if MRI Breast Cancer Screening is useful or not for:

  • Women who have a lifetime risk of 15-20% based on a breast cancer prediction model determined primarily by family history, such as the BRCAPRO model.
  • Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH).
  • Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH).
  • Dense breasts on mammography.
  • Women with a personal history of breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

3. MRI Breast Cancer Screening is not recommended for women who have a less than 15% lifetime risk of breast cancer. This includes most women.

For further information about the new recommendations for Screening Breast MRI, please visit:
http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/

For further information on this website regarding Breast MRI, please see the Breast MR page at: www.RadiologyInfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastmr.

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