MRI has been getting a bad rap because, as a highly sensitive but not very specific diagnostic tool, it finds everything and anything.

This has resulted in a concern that MRIs of the breast could result in extra biopsies that are not really necessary based on pathology results. However, a new study shows the truth is actually the opposite.

In the study, featured in the June 2006 issue of the journal Radiology, researchers found that imaging suspicious breast lesions with MRI reduced the need for biopsy by 58 percent.

The investigators from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center discovered that with the addition of MRI to their breast imaging protocol, 23 of 40 suspicious lesions could have been spared from biopsy, and none of the cancers would have been missed.

One of the challenges arising from this exciting news is the resistance from insurance companies to cover MRI for breast evaluation. It's an expensive test, usually more than $1000. Yet a biopsy would cost far more than this. I'll be interested to read your thoughts and experiences.