Molecular Breast Imaging More Effective than Mammography at Detecting Cancer in High-Risk Women with Dense Breasts

In the largest study to date to compare a screening technique called molecular breast imaging (MBI) to mammography, researchers have shown that MBI can detect three times as many cancers in women who have dense breast patterns on their mammogram and are at increased risk of breast cancer.

Mammography is the current standard of care for breast cancer screening. However, it can be difficult to distinguish normal breast tissue from tumor tissue in women with dense breasts using mammography. As a consequence, women who have dense breasts as well as other breast cancer risk factors often need additional screening.

MBI is a relatively new screening method in which patients are injected with a short-living radioactive agent that is absorbed by breast tissue. This agent is tracked with a specialized camera that can distinguish healthy tissue from breast cancer tumors, as cancer cells absorb more of the radioactive agent
than healthy cells. MBI is currently available at a limited number of cancer centers, but its availability is growing. While more expensive than mammography, MBI is about one-fifth of the cost of breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

source: ASCO