MRI vs. Mammography

Newsweek (November 3, 2008) had a small article on MRI's vs. the mammogram.

It seems that the question about whether MRI's can do a better job than mammograms in the detection of breast cancer has been coming up ever since women learned that Christina Applegate's breast cancer was discovered after her doctor ordered an MRI.

According to Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, most women will not benefit from MRI screening.

The problems with MRI's:

1. MRI's are more expensive.
2. MRI's have more false positive results than mammograms.

However, recent American Cancer Society guidelines (cancer.org) do recommend MRI, along with mammography, for women who are at the highest risk of developing the disease.

As it turns out, Applegate was in that group. She had tested positive for a genetic mutation called BRCA. Also at high risk are those women who have a close relative with the mutation and are untested.

Best bet: talk to your doctor.