Introduction: Extremely dense breast tissue is a risk factor for breast cancer and limits the detection of cancer with mammography. Data are needed on the use of supplemental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to improve early detection and reduce interval breast cancers in such patients.
Methods: 40,373 women between the ages of 50 and 75 years with extremely dense breast tissue and normal results on screening mammography were assigned to a group that was invited to undergo supplemental MRI or to a group that received mammography screening only. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in the incidence of interval cancers during a 2-year screening period.
Results: The interval-cancer rate was 2.5 per 1000 screenings in the MRI-invitation group and 5.0 per 1000 screenings in the mammography-only group.
Conclusion: The use of supplemental MRI screening in women with extremely dense breast tissue and normal results on mammography resulted in the diagnosis of significantly fewer interval cancers than mammography alone during a 2-year screening period.
New England Journal of Medicine 2019. Full text here.
Authors: Marije F. Bakker, Stéphanie V. de Lange, Ruud M. Pijnappel, Ritse M. Mann, Petra H.M. Peeters, et al for the DENSE Trial Study Group
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