Authors' objectives:

"Research Questions; 1. What is the clinical effectiveness of MRI screening compared to film mammography in women with a high risk of breast cancer? 2. What is the cost-effectiveness of MRI screening compared to film mammography in women with a high risk of breast cancer? 3. What is the strength of evidence used to support the American Cancer Society's guidelines regarding MRI screening for woman at high risk of breast cancer?" (executive summary)

Authors' recommendations: The cost-effectiveness studies suggest that MRI for breast cancer screening could be costeffective, depending on the willingness to pay and the value attributed to one QALY. Overall, MRI has a higher sensitivity for breast cancer screening compared to mammography. In addition, the number of cancers detected by MRI alone was higher than that detected by mammography alone, although MRI also missed some cancers. These results indicate that some breast cancers would have been missed with mammography screening alone and the addition of MRI resulted in more cancers being detected. High-risk women, such as those with BRCA1/2 mutations, those having a first-degree relative with a mutation, or those with a strong family history of breast cancer, seem to benefit most from the addition of MRI to the screening modality.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/I3010_MRI-Breast-Cancer_tr_e.pdf

Year Published: 2007

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)