Evolving Role of MRI in Breast Cancer Imaging

Breast MRI is a useful adjunctive tool to mammography. In the past 2 decades, contrast-enhanced breast MRI has become an integral component of breast imaging. In patients with known breast cancer, breast MRI can assess the extent of disease, including multifocal tumors and chest wall invasion. Improvements in MRI technology have resulted in improved ability for diagnosing mammographically and clinically occult breast cancer. With the use of contrast, the sensitivity of breast MRI for assessing invasive breast cancer approaches 100%, although specificity is lower. The clinical indications for the use of breast MRI will continue to evolve and expand.