New Scans Triple Breast Cancer Detection, Could Save 700 UK Lives Annually

A recent study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge found that adding supplementary scans such as contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) and abbreviated MRI (AB-MRI) to breast screening programs could significantly improve early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue, who represent about 10% of women and face a fourfold higher risk of breast cancer. Standard mammograms often miss cancers in dense breasts because both dense tissue and tumors appear white, making tumors hard to distinguish. The trial, involving over 9,000 women with dense breasts and negative mammograms, detected an additional 85 cancers through supplementary scanning, potentially increasing cancer detection by more than three times in this group. Researchers estimate that implementing these additional scans could identify 3,500 more cancers annually in the UK and save around 700 lives each year, given that early detection reduces mortality by about 20%. While automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) also detected cancers, it was less effective compared to CEM and AB-MRI. Experts and advocates are calling for national screening programs to adopt these enhanced imaging techniques for women with dense breasts, emphasizing the global relevance of these findings for improving breast cancer outcomes.