(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- International researchers nail down a viable
method of pinpointing breast cancer metastases: using whole body magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI). A new study says the method is highly accurate, and
can detect bone metastases even before a patient starts experiencing any
symptoms.
Whole body MRI is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose
and treat breast cancer, which commonly spreads to the bones, lungs, liver
-- or brain.
The study itself was performed at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research
Center in Pune, India, and presented at the ARRS Annual Meeting in San
Diego, Calif. The study included 99 patients with known breast cancer who
were evaluated for metastases using whole body MRI.
"Of the 99 patients, MRI accurately revealed that 47 patients were positive
for metastases while 52 were negative," lead study author Joshita Singh,
M.D., was quoted a saying. Researchers implore breast cancer patients to use
whole body MRI as their primary imaging modality.
Source: The American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), May 2010
