Washington: A cohort study finds that Breast MRI is more successful at detecting cancer in women with dense breasts, in comparison to other conventional supplemental screening methods. The findings were released in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women. About 47% of American women have dense breast tissue, a unique risk factor for breast cancer. Women who have big breasts tend to have less fatty tissue and more glandular and fibrous connective tissue.

Breast cancer is more likely to be overlooked in dense breasts, despite the fact that screening mammography successfully detects up to 98 percent of cancer in fatty breasts. This leads to a negative mammography, which gives patients false hope.

It is more difficult for radiologists to detect breast cancers within dense breast tissue because breast cancer masses and dense tissue both appear white on a mammogram, according to study co-author Vivianne Freitas, M.D., M.Sc., assistant professor at the University of Toronto in Canada and staff radiologist at the Joint Department of Medical Imaging in Toronto.

For women with thick breasts, further screening may be necessary to help with cancer detection. The four most popular supplementary imaging procedures are breast MRI, digital breast tomosynthesis, hand-held breast ultrasound, and automated breast ultrasound.

Researchers performed a meta-analysis of 22 trials with 261,233 people examined for breast cancer to determine which screening approach was most advantageous to women with thick breasts. Eight research reported on digital breast tomosynthesis, four studies covered automated breast ultrasound, three studies covered breast MRI. Of the investigations, ten focused on hand-held breast ultrasound. 132,166 of the patients who were included had thick breasts and a negative mammography.

World Cancer Day is celebrated every year on February 4. It is observed to unite the world in the fight against cancer. It aims to save millions of lives each year through education, raising awareness and pressing governments and individuals worldwide to take action.

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