MRI Detects Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) Better than Mammography

According to an article recently published in The Lancet, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more accurately detects ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast than mammography.
Cure rates for breast cancer have been improving; this progress has been attributed to screening practices and new treatment options. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the prognosis. On the other hand, cure rates are low for cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body. Therefore, screening to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages will lead to the best chances of a cure. Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast refers to a small cancer found in one of the ducts of the breast. There has been debate over whether DCIS is a true cancer or a pre-cancerous tumor that has the potential to spread. Overall, researchers have agreed that treatment for DCIS significantly reduces the risk of invasive breast cancer. There is still debate, however, about the best screening measure for DCIS. Researchers from Germany recently conducted a clinical trial to compare mammography and MRI for the detection of DCIS. This trial included 167 women with DICS who underwent both mammography and MRI prior to surgery. 92% of DCIS was detected by MRI compared with only 56% detected with mammography. Of all the high-grade (more aggressive) DCIS, nearly half were missed by mammography but MRI detected 98% --Click the title of this post to read the full article from its source--