Background parenchymal enhancement in premenopausal women varies with the menstrual cycle and is usually lowest in its second week. Strong background enhancement can mask cancers and generate false positives that lead to extra biopsies. For elective breast MRI, such as high-risk screening, schedule premenopausal women for about days 7 to 14 of the cycle where possible. For staging a newly diagnosed cancer, do not delay the scan to fit the cycle. Record the cycle day and any hormonal treatment on the request so the reader can interpret enhancement correctly.
- Schedule elective breast MRI in premenopausal women around days 7 to 14 of the cycle.
- Do not delay MRI for cancer staging to fit the cycle.
- Record cycle day and hormonal therapy on the request.
- Consider background enhancement when interpreting borderline findings.
Why it matters
Timing the scan is a free way to cut false positives and improve sensitivity.
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