Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Correlation to Standard of Care Imaging and Pathology Correlation in Breast Carcinoma

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a well known imaging tool for the investigation and diagnosis of breast cancer, used in addition to breast mammograms and ultrasound. Recent publications suggest that MRI may be the best test to use in women who have very dense breasts, have a family history of breast cancer and have had breast cancer and were treated with breast saving measures. MRI has been shown to be a better tool to show multiple breast cancer spots than mammography or ultrasound. The radiologists and the radiology students will have the opportunity to review the MRI scans along with the breast ultrasound and mammography films and the pathology reports from the breast cancer surgery completed at the CCI. This may enable them to learn how the various subtypes of breast cancer look on MRI. The goal is: 1) to gain good breast MRI expertise, giving the Radiology residents a complete diagnostic program. 2) to develop good MRI breast experience, enabling the Cross Cancer Institute to be the centre of excellence for Breast MRI for northern Alberta.