Study Comparing the PET Scan and MRI in Identifying Breast Malignancies in Women With Breast Abnormalities

This is a study looking at advanced imaging such as PET/CT and MRI to see if they can provide a more accurate assessment of the patient with dense breasts or difficult to interpret mammograms. In addition, the ability to determine whether one or the other is more accurate or whether both together would be appropriate in this clinical situation, may be able to be measured. The MRI studies are very sensitive for detection of breast histopathology but less specific in differentiating between small low grade malignancies are more benign pathologies. Multifocal pathology can be challenging in determining site(s) for biopsy. PET scanning is specific in the measurement of metabolic glucose activity of various histopathologies and is accurate in differentiating aggressive from benign pathology in multifocal breast disease. A further drawback of PET is the lack of ability to observe lesions less than 3-4mm in diameter. In select cases the combination of MR and PET/CT is able to come to a more conclusive diagnosis - specifically with bilateral or multifocal breast disease.