Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsComparing ProceduresFalse PositivesBreast Imaging RisksCostsWhen to Have a Breast MRIFast Breast MRI
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Comparing Procedures
False Positives
Breast Imaging Risks
Costs
When to Have a Breast MRI
Fast Breast MRI
The standardmammogramis sometimes used withbreast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)to detect or rule out breast cancer for people at high risk of the disease. Breast MRIs can detect tumors that mammograms may miss, but they also lead to false positive results.
During a mammogram,radiationis used to penetrate breast tissue and record differences in tissue density.Different views of the breast are taken to visualize all areas of breast tissue, which is compressed (squeezed) to allow radiation to penetrate thinner layers of tissue. It takes between 30 and 60 minutes to complete the entire appointment, with about 15 minutes for the imaging.
With an MRI, compression is not needed but some people may feel claustrophobic when placed in a tube-like machine. It emits powerful magnetic and radiation waves to generate highly detailed cross-sectional images of the breast and takes about 45 minutes to complete.
With these procedures:
Accuracy is based on more than one metric when considering how well a test performs. These test features include:
The main reason for false positives with breast MRI is that it can “see” bothbenign and cancerous lesionsbetter but may be less able to distinguish between them. The MRI can often detect breast cancer cells that have spread to lymph nodes under the armpit. A mammogram, though, can detectcalcification(calcium deposit markers at a tumor site) that can help differentiate the tumors.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that average-risk females get mammograms every other year starting at age 40. Those with certain risk factors may be advised to begin earlier.
Some people may be concerned about radiation exposure during a mammogram. Most of the current evidence suggests that the cancer risk due to exposure is low, even with annual mammogram screening that delivers 0.4milliSieverts(mSv), a measure of radiation.
According to a 2016 study in theAnnals of Internal Medicine, around 125 of every 100,000 people who undergo an annual mammogram will develop radiation-inducedbreast cancer.Of those, 16 people will die.
Mammogram and RadiationRadiation from a mammogram is equal to about seven weeks of natural environmental exposure, although this can vary depending on where you live geographically or whether radon gas affects your home.It’s about the same as having 80 dental X-rays, but far less than imaging done during anuclear cardiac stress testor a computed tomography scan of your abdomen.
Mammogram and Radiation
Radiation from a mammogram is equal to about seven weeks of natural environmental exposure, although this can vary depending on where you live geographically or whether radon gas affects your home.It’s about the same as having 80 dental X-rays, but far less than imaging done during anuclear cardiac stress testor a computed tomography scan of your abdomen.
There is also concern over health risks due to gadolinium used in MRI, beginning in 2014 when a study reported that the MRI contrast dye could be retained and deposited in the brain. Most current research suggests gadolinium contrast harms are minimal.Additionally, new breast MRI techniques that don’t rely on contrast continue to evolve.
Still, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety announcement in 2017, recommending that patients be advised about gadolinium retention prior to undergoing an MRI.
Any health screening tool must fulfill three criteria to be effective in a public health setting: reliability, availability, and affordability. By and large, a mammogram fulfills these aims and is relatively affordable.
In some cases, there will be no charge when a mammogram is considered preventive screening.However, the charge for a mammogram will depend on several factors, including whether it is considered diagnostic, and can be as high as $400 to $500.Many communities offerfree or low-cost screeningprograms.
A breast MRI with contrast dye can be expensive. Insurance companies typically need to approve the procedure first, in order to cover the cost for someone who is at higher risk for breast cancer.
People at high risk for developing breast cancer should discuss breast MRI with a healthcare provider. For example, there are a number ofgenetic testsfor key mutations associated with breast cancer, and results may suggest a breast MRI is needed.
High-risk individuals include those who:
Breast MRI is commonly performed if a mammogram and a subsequentbreast ultrasoundreveal a breast abnormality. If you’ve had breast cancer, or a condition likeatypical ductal hyperplasiathat increases risk, you also may need an MRI.
People who have had amastectomy(breast removal) on one side are often offered regular MRIs on the other breast. Those with dense breasts on a mammogram may also need a breast MRI.
Dense Breasts and MammographyThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all providers inform patients of breast density in their mammogram reports, which should be described as either “not dense” or “dense.“Those with dense breasts may wish to have additional tests, due to the limitations of mammography and increased cancer risk.
Dense Breasts and Mammography
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all providers inform patients of breast density in their mammogram reports, which should be described as either “not dense” or “dense.“Those with dense breasts may wish to have additional tests, due to the limitations of mammography and increased cancer risk.
A newer MRI technique referred to as fast breast MRI or abbreviated MRI may be combined with mammography in some uses.
A fast MRI takes only around 10 minutes, and unlike the high cost of conventional MRI, fast MRI costs roughly the same as a mammogram. However, it is not yet available at all breast cancer screening centers and may carry an out-of-pocket cost, such as $250.
In studies thus far, the combination of mammography with fast MRI detected significantly more breast cancers (especially aggressive cancers) than mammography alone or combined with ultrasound.
Summary
A mammogram is the standard test for breast cancer screening. For people at increased risk, breast MRI is increasingly used to help in the diagnosis. The screening tests have different strengths and weaknesses. Breast MRI, for example, can detect tumors that mammograms sometimes miss but also yields more false-positive results
Both tests can be used together to help diagnose breast cancer, but costs and insurance coverage may vary. Newer fast MRI tests also are available in some locations.
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.Mammography.Alotaibi BS, Alghamdi R, Aljaman S, Hariri RA, Althunayyan LS, AlSenan BF,et al.The Accuracy of Breast Cancer Diagnostic Tools.Cureus. 2024 Jan 7;16(1):e51776. doi:10.7759/cureus.51776Wu T, Alikhassi A, Curpen B.How Does Diagnostic Accuracy Evolve with Increased Breast MRI Experience?Tomography.2023 Nov 6;9(6):2067-2078. doi:10.3390/tomography9060162Mann RM, Kuhl CK, Moy L.Contrast-enhanced MRI for breast cancer screening.J Magn Reson Imaging. 2019;50(2):377-390. doi:10.1002/jmri.26654US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online April 30, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534American Cancer Society.Understanding Radiation Risk from Imaging Tests.Miglioretti DL, Lange J, van den Broek JJ, et al.Radiation-induced breast cancer incidence and mortality from digital mammography screening: a modeling study.Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(4):205-214. doi:10.7326/M15-1241University of California San Francisco.Know Your Dose.Fukushima Y, Ozaki D, Taketomi-Takahashi A, Hirasawa H, Ujita K, Suto T,et al.Assessment of first-time and repeated acute adverse reactions to gadolinium-based contrast agents in MRI: A retrospective study.Eur J Radiol.2024 Jul;176:111504. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111504.Guo BJ, Yang ZL, Zhang LJ.Gadolinium deposition in brain: current scientific evidence and future perspectives.Front Mol Neurosci. 2018;11:335. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2018.00335Gullo RL, Partridge SC, Shin HJ, Thakur SB, Pinker K.Update on DWI for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring.AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2024 Jan;222(1):e2329933. doi:10.2214/AJR.23.29933U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns that gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are retained in the body; requires new class warnings.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Medicare Preventive Services.Kaiser Permanente.Kaiser Permanente 2024 Sample Fee List.American Cancer Society.Breast MRI.Tabár L, Dean PB, Chen TH, et al.The incidence of fatal breast cancer measures the increased effectiveness of therapy in women participating in mammography screening.Cancer. 2019;125(4):515-523. doi:10.1002/cncr.31840Keeney MG, Couch FJ, Visscher DW, Lindor NM.Non-BRCA familial breast cancer: review of reported pathology and molecular findings.Pathology. 2017;49(4):363-370. doi:10.1016/j.pathol.2017.03.002American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.National Cancer Institute.A breast cancer risk assessment tool.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Important Information: Final Rule to Amend the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA).National Cancer Institute.Dense breasts: answers to commonly asked questions.University Hospitals.Fast Breast MRI Screenings.Ko ES, Morris EA.Abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging for breast cancer screening: concept, early results, and considerations.Korean J Radiol. 2019;20(4):533-541. doi:10.3348/kjr.2018.0722
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.Mammography.Alotaibi BS, Alghamdi R, Aljaman S, Hariri RA, Althunayyan LS, AlSenan BF,et al.The Accuracy of Breast Cancer Diagnostic Tools.Cureus. 2024 Jan 7;16(1):e51776. doi:10.7759/cureus.51776Wu T, Alikhassi A, Curpen B.How Does Diagnostic Accuracy Evolve with Increased Breast MRI Experience?Tomography.2023 Nov 6;9(6):2067-2078. doi:10.3390/tomography9060162Mann RM, Kuhl CK, Moy L.Contrast-enhanced MRI for breast cancer screening.J Magn Reson Imaging. 2019;50(2):377-390. doi:10.1002/jmri.26654US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online April 30, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534American Cancer Society.Understanding Radiation Risk from Imaging Tests.Miglioretti DL, Lange J, van den Broek JJ, et al.Radiation-induced breast cancer incidence and mortality from digital mammography screening: a modeling study.Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(4):205-214. doi:10.7326/M15-1241University of California San Francisco.Know Your Dose.Fukushima Y, Ozaki D, Taketomi-Takahashi A, Hirasawa H, Ujita K, Suto T,et al.Assessment of first-time and repeated acute adverse reactions to gadolinium-based contrast agents in MRI: A retrospective study.Eur J Radiol.2024 Jul;176:111504. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111504.Guo BJ, Yang ZL, Zhang LJ.Gadolinium deposition in brain: current scientific evidence and future perspectives.Front Mol Neurosci. 2018;11:335. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2018.00335Gullo RL, Partridge SC, Shin HJ, Thakur SB, Pinker K.Update on DWI for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring.AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2024 Jan;222(1):e2329933. doi:10.2214/AJR.23.29933U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns that gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are retained in the body; requires new class warnings.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Medicare Preventive Services.Kaiser Permanente.Kaiser Permanente 2024 Sample Fee List.American Cancer Society.Breast MRI.Tabár L, Dean PB, Chen TH, et al.The incidence of fatal breast cancer measures the increased effectiveness of therapy in women participating in mammography screening.Cancer. 2019;125(4):515-523. doi:10.1002/cncr.31840Keeney MG, Couch FJ, Visscher DW, Lindor NM.Non-BRCA familial breast cancer: review of reported pathology and molecular findings.Pathology. 2017;49(4):363-370. doi:10.1016/j.pathol.2017.03.002American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.National Cancer Institute.A breast cancer risk assessment tool.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Important Information: Final Rule to Amend the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA).National Cancer Institute.Dense breasts: answers to commonly asked questions.University Hospitals.Fast Breast MRI Screenings.Ko ES, Morris EA.Abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging for breast cancer screening: concept, early results, and considerations.Korean J Radiol. 2019;20(4):533-541. doi:10.3348/kjr.2018.0722
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.Mammography.Alotaibi BS, Alghamdi R, Aljaman S, Hariri RA, Althunayyan LS, AlSenan BF,et al.The Accuracy of Breast Cancer Diagnostic Tools.Cureus. 2024 Jan 7;16(1):e51776. doi:10.7759/cureus.51776Wu T, Alikhassi A, Curpen B.How Does Diagnostic Accuracy Evolve with Increased Breast MRI Experience?Tomography.2023 Nov 6;9(6):2067-2078. doi:10.3390/tomography9060162Mann RM, Kuhl CK, Moy L.Contrast-enhanced MRI for breast cancer screening.J Magn Reson Imaging. 2019;50(2):377-390. doi:10.1002/jmri.26654US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online April 30, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534American Cancer Society.Understanding Radiation Risk from Imaging Tests.Miglioretti DL, Lange J, van den Broek JJ, et al.Radiation-induced breast cancer incidence and mortality from digital mammography screening: a modeling study.Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(4):205-214. doi:10.7326/M15-1241University of California San Francisco.Know Your Dose.Fukushima Y, Ozaki D, Taketomi-Takahashi A, Hirasawa H, Ujita K, Suto T,et al.Assessment of first-time and repeated acute adverse reactions to gadolinium-based contrast agents in MRI: A retrospective study.Eur J Radiol.2024 Jul;176:111504. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111504.Guo BJ, Yang ZL, Zhang LJ.Gadolinium deposition in brain: current scientific evidence and future perspectives.Front Mol Neurosci. 2018;11:335. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2018.00335Gullo RL, Partridge SC, Shin HJ, Thakur SB, Pinker K.Update on DWI for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring.AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2024 Jan;222(1):e2329933. doi:10.2214/AJR.23.29933U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns that gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are retained in the body; requires new class warnings.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Medicare Preventive Services.Kaiser Permanente.Kaiser Permanente 2024 Sample Fee List.American Cancer Society.Breast MRI.Tabár L, Dean PB, Chen TH, et al.The incidence of fatal breast cancer measures the increased effectiveness of therapy in women participating in mammography screening.Cancer. 2019;125(4):515-523. doi:10.1002/cncr.31840Keeney MG, Couch FJ, Visscher DW, Lindor NM.Non-BRCA familial breast cancer: review of reported pathology and molecular findings.Pathology. 2017;49(4):363-370. doi:10.1016/j.pathol.2017.03.002American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.National Cancer Institute.A breast cancer risk assessment tool.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Important Information: Final Rule to Amend the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA).National Cancer Institute.Dense breasts: answers to commonly asked questions.University Hospitals.Fast Breast MRI Screenings.Ko ES, Morris EA.Abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging for breast cancer screening: concept, early results, and considerations.Korean J Radiol. 2019;20(4):533-541. doi:10.3348/kjr.2018.0722
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.Mammography.
Alotaibi BS, Alghamdi R, Aljaman S, Hariri RA, Althunayyan LS, AlSenan BF,et al.The Accuracy of Breast Cancer Diagnostic Tools.Cureus. 2024 Jan 7;16(1):e51776. doi:10.7759/cureus.51776
Wu T, Alikhassi A, Curpen B.How Does Diagnostic Accuracy Evolve with Increased Breast MRI Experience?Tomography.2023 Nov 6;9(6):2067-2078. doi:10.3390/tomography9060162
Mann RM, Kuhl CK, Moy L.Contrast-enhanced MRI for breast cancer screening.J Magn Reson Imaging. 2019;50(2):377-390. doi:10.1002/jmri.26654
US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online April 30, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534
American Cancer Society.Understanding Radiation Risk from Imaging Tests.
Miglioretti DL, Lange J, van den Broek JJ, et al.Radiation-induced breast cancer incidence and mortality from digital mammography screening: a modeling study.Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(4):205-214. doi:10.7326/M15-1241
University of California San Francisco.Know Your Dose.
Fukushima Y, Ozaki D, Taketomi-Takahashi A, Hirasawa H, Ujita K, Suto T,et al.Assessment of first-time and repeated acute adverse reactions to gadolinium-based contrast agents in MRI: A retrospective study.Eur J Radiol.2024 Jul;176:111504. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111504.
Guo BJ, Yang ZL, Zhang LJ.Gadolinium deposition in brain: current scientific evidence and future perspectives.Front Mol Neurosci. 2018;11:335. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2018.00335
Gullo RL, Partridge SC, Shin HJ, Thakur SB, Pinker K.Update on DWI for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring.AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2024 Jan;222(1):e2329933. doi:10.2214/AJR.23.29933
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns that gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are retained in the body; requires new class warnings.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Medicare Preventive Services.
Kaiser Permanente.Kaiser Permanente 2024 Sample Fee List.
American Cancer Society.Breast MRI.
Tabár L, Dean PB, Chen TH, et al.The incidence of fatal breast cancer measures the increased effectiveness of therapy in women participating in mammography screening.Cancer. 2019;125(4):515-523. doi:10.1002/cncr.31840
Keeney MG, Couch FJ, Visscher DW, Lindor NM.Non-BRCA familial breast cancer: review of reported pathology and molecular findings.Pathology. 2017;49(4):363-370. doi:10.1016/j.pathol.2017.03.002
American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.
National Cancer Institute.A breast cancer risk assessment tool.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Important Information: Final Rule to Amend the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA).
National Cancer Institute.Dense breasts: answers to commonly asked questions.
University Hospitals.Fast Breast MRI Screenings.
Ko ES, Morris EA.Abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging for breast cancer screening: concept, early results, and considerations.Korean J Radiol. 2019;20(4):533-541. doi:10.3348/kjr.2018.0722
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