Should we use MRI to screen women at high-risk of breast cancer?

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer are at increased risk of developing the disease themselves. Mammographic surveillance is recommended in the over 40 age group but the evidence of benefit from this strategy is limited until the individual reaches age 50 years. There is increasing evidence from the trials of breast magnetic resonance imaging that women at high risk may benefit from this technique as sensitivity is not dependent on breast density. The Dutch and Canadian studies have reported the sensitivity of MRI to be 71% and 77% compared to mammography which was 40% and 36%, respectively, in asymptomatic high risk cohorts.