Whole-body MRI finds breast cancer metastases earlier

May 17, 2010

SAN DIEGO—Whole-body MRI should be the go-to imaging modality for detecting bone metastases in asymptomatic patients, according to a study presented at the 2010 American Roentgen Ray Society meeting.

Joshita Singh, MD, and colleagues at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center in Pune, India, included 99 patients with known breast cancer.

"Of the 99 patients, MRI accurately revealed that 47 patients were positive for metastases while 52 were negative. Of those patients who were positive for metastases, whole-body MRI frequently detected bone metastases earlier when the patient was still asymptomatic," Dr. Singh said (abstract 194).

by linda jeaurond | December 16, 2010 2:27 PM EST

@ yi zhang the advantage of finding the mets is that you can then preserve bone integrity by giving bisphosphonates early; this can save the patients months of agony and allow them time to enroll in clinical trials. (Which is where researchers learn how to save other patients, if not the one in front of them... )

by Lucy Berlin | September 08, 2010 4:52 PM EDT

Three reasons I see: It makes sense to start a newly dx stage IV cancer on bisphosphonates if you know that there are (even sub-clinical) bone mets. And, when doing initial staging for high-risk newly Dx breast cancer, if this is more reliable and saves on radiation, there's a definite benefit to the patient. I'm sure that cost-benefit studies are being done as we speak. Third, when following patients on Tx or on clinical trial, this can help evaluate response vs. SD vs. PD.

by Snakaphun Nakaphun | July 10, 2010 12:06 AM EDT

How about comparing ot convention bone scan in detection bony metastases?

by yi zhang | July 08, 2010 3:03 PM EDT

What are the advantages of early detect bone metastasis? Many oncologists think as long as metastasis occurs, no matter you discovered early or late, the treatment and prognosis are the same, I really doubt it, how do you comment? Thanks

Yi Zhang

by Sandra Anderson | May 19, 2010 11:50 AM EDT

And how long does a whole body MRI take? Cost? It sure would be nice to save on radiation expsure.

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Whole-body MRI finds breast cancer metastases earlier

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