A streamlined version of breast MR has shown comparable accuracy to full-protocol scans in detecting cancer among women with extremely dense breast tissue, according to findings published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America.

In a secondary analysis of data from the DENSE Trial, a Netherlands-based breast cancer screening study, researchers evaluated whether shorter MR protocols could maintain diagnostic effectiveness. The study focused on a group of women with extremely dense breasts, where mammography alone can be less reliable due to the similar appearance of dense tissue and tumors.

Seven experienced radiologists assessed a series of breast MR exams using stepwise additions of image sequences, resulting in 2,072 total reads. After each sequence, radiologists assigned BI-RADS scores to determine if further diagnostic testing was needed.

The abbreviated MR scans, some taking under five minutes to complete, demonstrated sensitivity and specificity on par with full-length protocols, which typically take 30 to 35 minutes. Additional sequences beyond the abbreviated set did not improve diagnostic decision-making.

“The shortest abbreviated protocol demonstrated good performance, comparable to that of the full multiparametric protocol, while being up to four times faster to acquire and up to two times faster to read,” said Dr. Wouter B. Veldhuis, associate professor of radiology at University Medical Center Utrecht.

Researchers reported up to 80% reductions in scan time and 50% shorter reading times using the abbreviated protocol. They suggested these efficiencies could expand access to MR screening for women with extremely dense breasts, especially in population-level programs.

“Reducing the examination time and noise levels potentially improves patient experience,” Veldhuis added. “Moreover, shorter reading and scan times may allow implementation of MR in national screening programs.”