Non-Contrast Breast MRI Clinical Study Launched

June 2024.

We are enrolling participants for our study on "Abbreviated Non-Contrast-Enhanced MRI for Breast Cancer Screening." This NIH-funded study aims to enroll over 2000 patients who are at elevated risk to develop breast cancer.

We hope to in the future offer a fast and non-contrast breast MRI alternative to every woman!

• Why?
  MRI finds breast cancers much more effectively than x-ray-based mammography. But, current state-of-the-art breast MRI requires contrast injection through an intravenous port, which is undesirable. Eliminating the use of contrast would greatly improve the accessibility of breast MRI, and ultimately allow many more women to have a breast MRI for cancer annual screening.
• What?
  We are testing a novel breast MRI exam that does not require the contrast injection (faster, cheaper, more comfortable, and non-invasive for patients). In our study’s analysis, we are comparing cancer detection accuracy of this injection-free exam to the standard breast MRI exam.
• How do you participate?
  If you are scheduled for a screening breast MRI at Stanford Radiology, you may be able to consent to have 10 additional minutes added to your exam for our research scans. You will be invited to participate ahead of your scheduled MRI visit by our research coordinator team. You will still receive a contrast injection for your standard breast MRI, and everything else with your scheduled breast screening exam remains the same.
• What is the difference between standard breast MRI and the novel method?
  Standard (Dynamic Contrast Enhanced) breast MRI is mostly based on the changes in tissue perfusion, that is blood flow to tissue. This requires injection of a contrast agent.
  Our approach (Diffusion MRI) instead is based on changes in water mobility that may occur in cancer. Diffusion MRI does not require injection of contrast. Researchers in our team have developed an advanced diffusion MRI technique that allows to acquire diffusion MRI images of the breast with high quality.

This study is supported by the National Institutes of Health / National Cancer Institute (NIH 1R01CA249893-01A1), and includes multiple sites across the United States.

Study Coordinator: Kate Young, kyoung22@stanford.edu