Optimisation of Protocol through Evaluation of mRi scan Analysis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimisation of the FAST MRI protocol: an evaluation of what makes a good breast MRI through detailed analysis of scans from multiple NHS sites contributing to the FAST MRI Programme
IRAS ID
323909
Contact name
Katherine Klimczak
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Finding breast cancer early saves lives. The NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) uses mammograms to detect early breast cancers. However, not all cancers show on a mammogram so a cancer can be missed and continue to grow until the woman finds it herself. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans are better at detecting cancers than mammograms. However, MRI is expensive, and the NHS only uses it to screen women classed as high risk (women with a 4 out of 10 chance of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, almost 3 times the chance of most women (average = 1 out of 7 chance)).
Recent studies have shown that using only part of the full breast MRI scan detects cancer equally well as the full scan but is a much quicker scan with lower costs. This technique is called FAST-MRI and has the potential to save more women’s lives by finding breast cancers earlier than a mammogram and providing value for money for the NHS. A group of research studies led by North Bristol NHS Trust aim to develop a better breast screening programme using FAST-MRI for women who currently have mammograms to screen for breast cancer.
How easy it is to see a breast cancer on an MRI scan depends on the scan quality and the technical details of the scan, known as the protocol. Quality control is therefore crucial for breast screening to optimise the detection of cancers.
This pilot study will develop a standardised and optimised protocol to be used in a separate multicentre trial of FAST-MRI for women having their first screening mammogram (current shortlisted application to NIHR by the NBT-led FAST-MRI programme).
Our study will analyse breast MRIs from different scanners across NHS sites within the FAST-MRI Research Programme. Anonymised scans will be sent electronically to a panel of Breast Radiologists who will each score the scans for multiple aspects of scan quality. A team of Medical Physicists will also extract the numerically measurable aspects within each of the sites’ scan protocol and images. These two information sets, radiologists’ visual assessments and objectively measured values, will then be analysed to discover which settings make the optimal FAST-MRI scan for each type of MRI scanner used. Site specific recommendations will be made to improve scan quality.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0102
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion