Does Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lower Reoperation Rates in Breast Cancer Patients?

Despite its introduction into clinical practice 2 decades ago, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for breast cancer staging and preoperative surgical assessment remains controversial. Thus, data from the first prospective, multicenter trial designed to evaluate breast MRI in this setting are welcome. U.K. investigators randomized 1623 women who had biopsy-proven breast cancer and were scheduled for breast-conserving surgery (BCS) to either preoperative MRI or no MRI. All patients were candidates for BCS based on clinical assessment, imaging with mammography or ultrasound, and pathologic evaluation of disease.

After patients underwent initial surgeries, investigators examined reoperation rates, defined as the proportion of women who underwent f…