What does this research mean for the field?

Supplemental breast MRI for women aged 40 years or older with extremely dense breasts and higher-than-average risk can be cost-effective if MRI costs and false-positive biopsy rates are reduced. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the effectiveness and cost implications of supplemental breast MRI screening in women with varying breast cancer risk levels.

March 5, 2026

Outcomes of Density-Targeted Supplemental Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Screening by Breast Cancer Risk: Long-Term Health and Economic Considerations

Key Points

To evaluate the effectiveness and cost implications of supplemental breast MRI screening in women with varying breast cancer risk levels.
Simulated cohorts of women aged 40 years and older with different relative risks for breast cancer.
Evaluated screening outcomes using digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) alone versus DBT with supplemental MRI.
Assessed interventions starting at ages 40, 45, or 50 years with varying screening intervals.
DBT alone averted 7.4 to 10.5 breast cancer deaths per 1000 women at average risk and 23.2 to 33.6 per 1000 women at four times higher risk.
DBT with supplemental MRI averted 0.1 to 0.8 additional breast cancer deaths but led to 22 to 186 more false-positive biopsy recommendations.
For women with 2 times higher-than-average risk, false-positive biopsies for biennial DBT+MRI were similar to those for average-risk DBT.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Federally mandated breast density notifications motivate consideration of supplemental breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate supplemental breast MRI strategies. DESIGN: Simulation of women at average to 4 times higher-than-average relative risk (RR) for breast cancer incidence undergoing screening digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) with or without supplemental MRI. DATA SOURCES: Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium and literature. TARGET POPULATION: Women aged 40 years or older. TIME HORIZON: Lifetime. PERSPECTIVE: U.S. federal payer. INTERVENTION: Screening with DBT with or without breast density-targeted MRI by starting age (40, 45, or 50 years) and interval (annual or biennial). OUTCOME MEASURES: Breast cancer deaths averted, false-positive biopsy recommendations, harm-benefit ratios, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). RESULTS OF BASE-CASE ANALYSIS: Across all starting ages and intervals, DBT averted 7.4 to 10.5 breast cancer deaths per 1000 average-risk women screened and 23.2 to 33.6 per 1000 women with 4 times higher-than-average risk. Across all RR levels, DBT with supplemental MRI for women with extremely dense breasts (DBT+MRId) averted 0.1 to 0.8 additional breast cancer deaths and resulted in 22 to 186 additional false-positive biopsy recommendations. False-positive biopsies per breast cancer death averted for biennial DBT+MRId for women with 2 times higher-than-average risk were similar to those associated with DBT in average-risk women. For all risk groups, biennial DBT+MRId starting at age 50 years was more effective but less cost-effective than DBT starting at age 45 years. RESULTS OF SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS: The ICERs were sensitive to cancer risk, MRI costs, and false-positive biopsy rates. LIMITATION: Subgroups considered risk and breast density only. CONCLUSION: Supplemental MRI for women aged 40 years or older with extremely dense breasts and higher-than-average risk (RR ≥2.0) had harm-benefit ratios similar to biennial DBT alone and could be cost-effective if MRI costs and false-positive biopsy rates are reduced. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Cancer Institute.

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Outcomes of Density-Targeted Supplemental Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Screening by Breast Cancer Risk: Long-Term Health and Economic Considerations

Key Points

Abstract

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