A study set to appear in the August issue of the *Journal of the American College of Surgeons* suggests that the use of breast MRI scans has led to an increased rate of mastectomies and delayed treatment for some women. The research, led by Dr. Richard Bleicher from the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, analyzed data from 577 patients who underwent various breast treatments. Of these, 130 had received MRI scans prior to their procedures.
According to the findings, patients who underwent MRI scans started their treatment an average of 22 days later than those who did not. This delay could impact outcomes, especially in cases where timely intervention is critical. Additionally, the study highlighted that breast MRIs have a high false positive rate, which may lead some patients to opt for more aggressive surgery—such as mastectomy—rather than less invasive options like lumpectomy. The researchers found no significant reduction in the conversion rate from breast-conserving surgery to mastectomy between those who had MRIs (9.8%) and those who did not (5.9%).
The study also noted that younger women were more likely to receive MRI scans, with an average age of 52.5 years compared to 59.0 years for those who did not. However, this trend didn’t align with known risk factors for breast cancer, such as family history or specific tumor characteristics. Furthermore, the research found that breast MRI did not improve the likelihood of achieving clear surgical margins during tumor removal—21.6% of patients who had MRIs still had positive margins, compared to 13.8% without MRIs.
At the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, a separate study involving over 5,000 women showed that nearly half of those who had undergone MRI scans opted for mastectomy, compared to only 38% of those who didn’t. These conflicting results highlight the complex role of breast MRI in decision-making and underscore the need for careful consideration when recommending the procedure. As medical technology continues to evolve, it’s crucial for both doctors and patients to weigh the benefits and risks of each diagnostic tool.
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