WASHINGTON - A simple blood test corresponding to the follicular phase (days 3-14) of a normal menstrual cycle could reduce repeated breast MRI scans in premenopausal women with irregular periods, according to a study.
The test could aid in optimal scheduling of MRI scans in such women, which could possibly reduce the number of repeat scans and non-diagnostic tests patients experience and providing clearer images on which doctors make their recommendations, said the authors.
Research has shown that performing breast MRI scans during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle minimizes breast tissue enhancement.
“In practice, many clinicians scan premenopausal women who lack normal menstrual cycles without regard to the timing of their hormonal cycle. This can result in non-diagnostic exams and repeat scans,” said Dr. Richard L. Ellis, lead author of the study.
Using what is already known about the menstrual cycle and its effects upon normal breast tissue, the researchers reasoned that a simple blood test could be used to optimize the timing of breast MRI exams.
Blood tests were used to time exams in 11 women with irregular cycles.
“None of the breast MRI scans performed in our small group of women resulted in high background enhancement of normal breast tissue requiring a repeat scan,” said Ellis.
“Appropriate timing of a breast MRI examination for premenopausal women who do not have a normal menstrual cycle is a challenge. However, using existing science, we found that a simple blood test to determine a woman’s serum progesterone concentration can aid in optimal timing of breast MRI. This is significant in an ever-increasing population of women requiring or eligible for breast MRI,” he added.
The study has been published in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. (ANI)
Related News
Menopausal women on hormone therapy shouldn't stop treatment prior to mammogramsSeptember 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers have suggested that menopausal women on hormone therapy (HT) shouldn't stop their treatment prior to their annual mammogram screenings. Annual mammography screening significantly reduces the breast cancer mortality in women older than 50, and is considered a pillar of routine healthcare maintenance.
'Two for one' breast boosting technique not as viable as it seemsSeptember 16th, 2009 LONDON - A technology that was claimed as the ultimate solution to give a boost to women's breasts by using fat removed from thighs is not viable as it seems, say experts. Mel Graham, chairman of the Harley Medical Group, recently claimed that the "two for one" procedure could extract excess fat from where it was not wanted - the belly, hips or thighs - and relocate it to the bust.
Why do men have nipples ?August 12th, 2009 There are lots of speculation about it, it is true that though women are having a logical purpose but why do men having nipples, some thought that it is the sign of being a mammal, some believe males are failed female, all unborn creature having a tendency to be shape up as a female but due to some reason they failed to be so and turned out as male. According to medical science male breast can also produce milk and can develop female breast diseases like breast cancer.
Intervention proves effective in increasing correct breast self-examsApril 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, researchers have found that a brief intervention program boosted the number of women correctly performing breast self- exams by tenfold. The Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research study is one of the first to show intervention programs can be effective in increasing breast self-exams.
Hope for women who suffer infertility, pelvic pain during sexJanuary 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - There is some hope for women who suffer from endometriosis, infertility and pelvic pain during sex, a chronic disease that affects five to 10 million women in the US. Serdar Bulun, professor of gynaecology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and colleagues have discovered key epigenetic abnormalities in endometriosis and identified existing chemicals that now help treat it.
Loading ...