Authors' recommendations: MRI is effective as screening method in women with genetic predisposal to breast cancer.There is not sufficient evidence to determine if its safety is better than that of the other alternative tests.The balance between the benefit from avoiding a biopsy and the risk to get a negative false result does not justify the use of MRI on an ordinary basis with the purpose of discarding breast cancer after having previously detected a suspected lesion.MRI is effective and safe for identifying occult tumour with a negative result in mammography and which reveal only thanks to the presence of positive axillary lymph node indicative of adenocarcinoma.MRI can improve the detection of multifocal disease.MRI can assess, before the operation takes place, the size of the tumour remaining after neoadjuvant chemotherapy more accurately than traditional tests.The studies retrieved do not allow drawing valid conclusions on the following issue: can MRI be used complementarily to mammography when the sensitivity of the latter is hindered by the characteristics of the breast (dense breast, post-surgical scars, or radiotherapy)?Most of MRI equipments currently in use could serve for the indications this report is dealing with.Coils that are currently considered fundamental to conduct studies on MRI of the breast appropriately.All contrast agents based on gadolinium are similar as regards to effectiveness and safety. There are no differences depending on the dose.It is frequent to find differences, at a local level, in the techniques employed; and the latter can affect the quality of the images and the effectiveness of the technique.Fat suppression is particularly important in MRI of breast.The intensity of enhancement will depend on the menstrual cycle.As there is no dominance between the alternatives, it is necessary to establish a decision criterion on the willingness to pay per unit of additional effect gained.The results obtained from this analysis are widely under the threshold considered as cost-effectiveness in Spain.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.aetsa.org/publicacion/resonancia-magnetica-para-el-diagnostico-de-cancer-de-mama-revision-sistematica-y-evaluacion-economica/

Year Published: 2008

URL for published report: https://www.aetsa.org/download/publicaciones/antiguas/AETSA_2006-13_RMCaMama.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Andalusian Health Technology Assessment Area

Contact Address: Area de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias Sanitarias de Andalucia (AETSA) Avda. Innovación, s/n Edificio Arena 1. Sevilla (Spain) Tel. +34 955 006 309

Contact Name: aetsa.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es

Contact Email: aetsa.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es

Copyright: Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AETSA)