FAST MRI reader training for breast cancer screening
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Refinement and piloting of a training programme within the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) workforce of image readers to enable standardised interpretation of a shortened magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) of the breast called FAST MRI to support the delivery of a future multicentre trial of FAST MRI versus mammogram for breast cancer screening
IRAS ID
258203
Contact name
Lyn I Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 29 days
Research summary
Aim:
To see if NHS staff can successfully learn to use a new method of breast cancer screening to find breast cancers early
Background:
Finding breast cancers early saves lives. Mammograms are the X-ray test that the NHS uses to look for early signs of breast cancer. Mammograms are better at finding some types of breast cancer than others. Unfortunately, fast-growing, dangerous cancers are less likely to show up on a mammogram than slow-growing cancers. Also, half the women having breast cancer screening in the UK have enough dense (solid or tightly packed) breast tissue to hide a small cancer on their mammogram. In order to save more lives by finding fast-growing breast cancers early, we need an affordable screening test that is better than mammograms at finding cancers. We also need to know if the NHS staff who read the screening mammograms can quickly learn to interpret the new test accurately.
There is a high-tech test (known as MRI) that is better than mammograms at finding breast cancers. However, each MRI scan takes about half an hour, and needs senior medical staff to interpret it. It is therefore expensive and cannot be used for everyone. FAST MRI is a quicker type of MRI that we think could be better than mammograms at finding breast cancers early.
Design and Methods:
We will teach staff from 6 NHS centres to interpret FAST MRI. The staff will already be able to read mammograms. Once trained, they will read a set of 125 FAST MRI scans, looking for signs of breast cancer. We want to see how accurate their readings are and find out if our teaching methods are good enough.
Funded by National Institute for Health Research.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1473
Date of REC Opinion
30 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion