Rationale for a national multi-centre study of magnetic resonance imaging screening in women at genetic risk of breast cancer

Abstract

In 1994, the UK National Health Service identified as a research priority that magnetic resonance imaging (MRT) should be assessed as a screening tool for young, pre-menopausal women who are at a high genetic risk of developing breast cancer. In 1997 a national multicentre study was established to compare MRI with X-ray mammography as a method for screening for breast cancer in this group of women. This paper reviews the relevant literature and describes the rationale that led to the setting up of this study. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.