What is Abbreviated Breast MRI? And is it an option for me?
A recent study found that Abbreviated Breast MRI shortens exam time while retaining a high level of diagnostic accuracy for breast cancer in women with extremely dense breasts.
But what is Abbreviate Breast MRI? And who is it best suited for?
Breast MRI is a powerful adjunct to mammography, especially for women with dense breast tissue, where it can detect up to three times more cancers than mammography alone.
But traditional MRI has some major drawbacks: it’s expensive, takes around 30 minutes, and isn’t widely available. On top of that, insurance often only covers it for women at high risk, even though most women diagnosed with breast cancer don’t fall into that category.
That’s where Abbreviated Breast MRI (AB-MRI) comes in. By focusing on the most essential images, scan time drops to under 10 minutes — sometimes as little as three minutes — without losing diagnostic accuracy. That means better access, lower cost, and a quicker, more comfortable experience for patients.
“While it’s not yet covered by insurance in most cases, early studies are very promising and we are proud at Hoag to be one of a few heath systems in the region to offer this technology,” said January Lopez, M.D., radiologist and medical director of Breast Imaging at Hoag Breast Center.
With more research and broader support, AB-MRI could be a game changer for breast cancer screening in women with dense breasts.