A New Future for Breast Cancer Imaging

Mammography gives physicians the best look at whether or not a woman might have a tumor and is often the only way to find the earliest and most curable forms of breast cancer. But now at Scott & White, high-risk women have a new option when it comes to detecting and diagnosing breast cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been a vital diagnostic tool for decades, but now, for select patients, the MRI is giving doctors a new way to look for breast tumors.

“MRI is an excellent imaging study for breast cancer patients and those at high risk of getting the disease,” said Debra L. Monticciolo, M.D., Section Chief of Breast Imaging at Scott & White. “In the right setting, MRI is more sensitive than mammography and is an additional tool for those women who are at high risk.”

MRI is good at finding vascular lesions in the breast and can help find new tumors. It is also used to evaluate the extent of the disease within the breast, allowing the surgeon to better plan for tumor removal. Because many non-cancerous areas also are positive on MRI, the test is not good for general screening, as too many unnecessary biopsies would result.

The Breast Imaging Section works to give as complete a diagnosis as possible, including ultrasound, MRI and minimally invasive image-guided biopsy where appropriate. “Our goal is to do a full work-up and give the patient a recommendation at the time of her visit. We routinely offer image-guided biopsy the same day. Our needle biopsy program helps make a timely diagnosis and we can often eliminate the need for surgery in a patient with a benign tumor. If surgery is necessary, we want to be able to give the surgeon the most complete information so they can plan the best approach.”

Dr. Monticciolo is quick to point out mammograms are still the most effective and important early detection method available. For those women who need additional evaluation of a breast problem, either clinical or mammographic, the Breast Imaging Section at Scott & White is ready with the latest in MRI and biopsy techniques to offer a complete diagnosis.

– January 2005

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