March 31, 2010 The MRI machine at Martha Jefferson Hospital is
no longer only used to screen knees, backs and arms. Radiologist
Dr. John Ciambotti says it's now one of the newest and most
effective ways to detect breast cancer. Unlike mammography, a
breast MRI does not use radiation. It also allows a radiologist
to see much more than they would in a routine mammogram.
"Statistics have shown that when looking for breast cancer,
mammography will find about 6 or 8 out of 10 breast cancers.
Breast MRI, however, will see about 10 out of 10 breast cancers.
So, breast MRI is a much more sensitive test for finding breast
cancer than mammography," said Dr. Ciambotti. Although, Dr.
Ciambotti says women shouldn't rush off and cancel their
mammography appointment, because these high-tech MRI screenings
are not for everyone. He only recommends certain patients
schedule a breast MRI. "Some of the most common indications that
we do breast MRI are for patients who have a high risk of
getting a breast cancer, or if you have a