How Does MR Imaging Help Care for the Breast Cancer Patient? Perspective of a Medical Oncologist

Although traditional assessment with clinical examination, mammogram, and ultrasound is generally accepted for detection and staging of breast cancer, MR imaging is commonly used to detect occult cancers in the breast and regional nodes in the early stage and to determine the extent of disease in patients with metastatic disease. Several studies have shown a variety of uses for MR imaging in the staging of breast cancer and assessment of treatment response in the neoadjuvant (preoperative) setting. This article reviews the impact of MR imaging in different settings on medical oncology decision-making in patients with breast cancer.