Overview

• A UK trial involving 9,361 women with dense breasts found that contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) and abbreviated MRI (AB-MRI) detected 85 additional cancers missed by standard mammograms.
• Researchers estimate that incorporating these methods into routine screenings could uncover 3,500 more cancers annually and reduce breast cancer mortality by saving 700 lives each year.
• Dense breast tissue, present in 10% of women aged 50–70, significantly increases cancer risk and obscures tumors on mammograms due to its white appearance on scans.
• The UK National Screening Committee is reviewing the findings but has not yet updated its guidelines to recommend supplemental imaging for women with dense breasts.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term impact on mortality rates, potential overdiagnosis risks, and cost-effectiveness of nationwide implementation.