OBJECTIVE:
Patients deemed to be at high risk for developing breast cancer (25% lifetime risk or higher)
qualify for high-risk screening with annual mammography and breast magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI). A proportion of these patients undergo short-interval follow-up breast MRI 3-6
months following their baseline study. Our objective is to assess the utility of these short-interval
follow-up breast MRI studies for patients at high risk for breast cancer.
METHODS:
A total of 330 baseline high-risk screening breast MRI studies performed at our institution
between 2013-2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, 70 baseline studies (21%) had a
recommendation for short-interval follow-up MRI at 3-6 months [Breast Imaging Reporting and
Data System – BIRADS 3]. The findings at baseline MRI and the outcome of the short-interval
follow-up, including any interventions, were recorded.
RESULTS/DISCUSSION: 
Of the 70 studies, 2 were excluded due to lack of follow-up. 68 high-risk patients were included
(age range 30-67, mean 42). Patients had short-interval follow-up due to moderate/marked
background parenchymal enhancement, benign-appearing non-mass enhancement and/or benign
appearing lesions. Of the 68 patients, 5 (7%) went on to have a biopsy, 4 of which had benign
pathology. One patient had atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH). The remaining 63 patients (93%)
had no suspicious findings on follow-up imaging.
CONCLUSION:
Short-interval follow-up breast MRI in high-risk patients after a baseline screening study with
likely benign findings is unlikely to yield clinically significant findings. This needs to be further
confirmed with evaluation of a larger cohort of patients.

The utility of short-interval follow-up high-risk breast MRI