Key points
Whether rates of death and local recurrence are reduced when additional breast tumors found by MRI are treated remains to be seen.
MRI contrast enhancement occurs in many cancers, but it may occur for benign reasons; thus, the finding of contrast enhancement does not establish the diagnosis of breast cancer.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network currently recommends screening with both mammography and MRI starting at age 20 to 25 for women at high risk of hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
A breast MRI evaluation costs about 10 times more than screening mammography and may not be covered by health insurance, but coverage for this indication appears to be improving gradually.