Maxine S. Jochelson, MD, director of radiology, Breast and Imaging Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the limitations of mammography and ultrasound in screening patients for breast cancer.

Currently mammography is the standard imaging modality for women with breast cancer, says Jochelson. However, mammography has a sensitivity rate of 30% to 50% for women with dense breast tissue.

Ultrasound and mammography may be utilized for women with dense breast tissue who require additional screening, says Jochelson. However, studies have shown that even when both tools are implemented, some cancers are not identified.

As such, women with dense breast tissue or who are carriers of high-risk mutations are recommended to have yearly MRI and mammography screening. MRI appears to identify cancer earlier which may improve overall survival for patients, concludes Jochelson.

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Maxine S. Jochelson, MD, discusses the limitations of mammography and ultrasound in screening patients for breast cancer.

Dr. Jochelson on the Limitations of Mammography and Ultrasound in Screening for Breast Cancer

Maxine S. Jochelson, MD, Director of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Breast and Imaging Center, Associate Professor, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, explains supplemental screening techniques that can be used for patients that are at high-risk of developing breast cancer, but do not have access to MRIs.

Jochelson explains that while MRI is the preferred method for breast cancer screening not everyone lives in a community where it is available. As a result, researchers are looking for substitutes that are just as reliable for patients without access or at intermediate risk of developing breast cancer.

Many of the other complimentary methods of screening currently under investigation include tomosynthesis, contrast enhanced mammography, radionuclide imaging, and screening ultrasound.

Jochelson notes that radionuclide imaging releases too much radiation to be considered a candidate for yearly screening. She maintains hope for screening ultrasound because of its advantages over other complementary methods, but notes that excessive detection of benign lesions is holding it back.

Dr. Maxine Jochelson, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Discusses Complementary Breast Cancer Screening Techniques

Maxine S. Jochelson, MD

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Dr. Jochelson on the Limitations of Mammography and Ultrasound in Screening for Breast Cancer

Dr. Jochelson on Breast Cancer Screening Techniques