October 3, 2022 – In the United States, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. One of the ways doctors have increased survival rates is with early detection using annual screening mammography.
Now, doctors at Intermountain Healthcare are using a new tool for early detection for women at higher risk of developing breast cancer called abbreviated MRI.
Using a normal magnetic resonance imaging machine already in hospitals, doctors can do a scan of just the breasts which only takes about ten minutes, and costs significantly less than conventional MRI.
The scans will be available at Intermountain Medical Center for women considered to be at higher risk for breast cancer. This is determined through a questionnaire that considers family history, density of breast tissue, and other factors, to gauge a woman’s risk.
Those with a score at or above 20 percent are considered high risk and eligible for the abbreviated MRI. SelectHealth insurance will cover the MRI for high-risk patients. However, patients will want to check with their individual insurance on coverage. Since time in the scanner is shorter, the cost is lower than a traditional MRI and will run around $400 for those paying out of pocket.
Studies have shown there are still some breast cancers that are better detected by mammograms, so abbreviated MRI won’t replace a woman’s annual screenings. Doctors say those at higher risk should receive both scans annually as a preventative measure.
MRIs for breast cancer detection in high-risk patients has been around for around 20 years. Abbreviated MRI is relatively new, and doctors hope with the faster scan and lower cost it could become more widely used in the future.