Two prediction models developed by Bianca den Dekker of the University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands, and her team, could potentially reduce false-positive first-round screening MRI rates in women with extremely dense breasts by 45.5% 35.5%, respectively.

The ‘full prediction model…based on all collected clinical characteristics and MRI findings could have prevented 45.5% of false-positive recalls…and 31.3% of benign biopsies without missing any cancers. The model solely based on readily available MRI findings and age had comparable performance…and could have prevented 35.5%…of false-positive MRI screenings results and 13.0%…of benign biopsies.” wrote the authors.

“Prediction models based on clinical characteristics and MRI findings may be useful to reduce the false-positive first-round screening MRI rate and benign biopsy rate in women with extremely dense breasts,” concluded the authors.

Dense breasts are difficult to image with mammography alone; supplemental MRIs are often used for more accurate diagnoses, sometimes leading to false-positive findings resulting in unnecessary follow-ups, biopsies, and expense. Having predictive models to screen false positives may save some women the cost, hassle, and trauma of unnecessary additional visits and procedures.

Sources:

den Dekker,Bianca M. Bakker, Marije F. de Lange, Stéphanie V. Veldhuis, Wouter B. van Diest, Paul J. Duvivier, Katya M. Lobbes, Marc B. I. Loo, Claudette E. Mann, Ritse M. Monninkhof, Evelyn M. Veltman, Jeroen Pijnappel, Ruud M. van Gils, Carla H. van Gils, C. H. Bakker, M. F. de Lange, S. V. Veenhuizen, S. G. A. Veldhuis, W. B. Pijnappel, R. M. Emaus, M. J. Peeters, P. H. M. Monninkhof, E. M. Fernandez-Gallardo, M. A. Mali, W. P. T. M. van den Bosch, M. A. A. J. van Diest, P. J. Mann, R. M. Mus, R. Imhof-Tas, M. W. Karssemeijer, N. Loo, C. E. de Koekkoek-Doll, P. K. Winter-Warnars, H. A. O. Bisschops, R. H. C. Kock, M. C. J. M. Storm, R. K. van der Valk, P. H. M. Lobbes, M. B. I. Gommers, S. de Jong, M. D. F. Rutten, M. J. C. M. Duvivier, K. M. de Graaf, P. Veltman, J. Bourez, R. L. J. H. de Koning, H. J. “Reducing False-Positive Screening MRI Rate in Women with Extremely Dense Breasts Using Prediction Models Based on Data from the DENSE Trial.” Radiology, 2021/08/17. Available online at https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.2021210325 Accessed August 23, 2021

Allegretto, Amerigo. “Prediction models can reduce false positives in breast MRI screening.” AuntMinnie.com Available August 17, 2021, at https://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=mri&pag=dis&ItemID=133244  Accessed August 23, 2021