Abbreviated Breast MRI Protocolat Diagnostic Breast Cancer Center Göttingen

Uwe Fischer, M.D. and Friedemann Baum, M.D.

The abbreviated breast MRI (ABB-MRI) was first published by Göttingen Breast Care Center in 2012¹.

Traditional breast MRI protocols are comprehensive and time-consuming, typically involving multiple post-contrast images and additional T2-weighted imaging. The short first-pass MRI, which takes only 4–5 minutes, is based on the early, strong contrast uptake seen in breast cancer due to tumor neoangiogenesis. Since most malignancies can be detected within the first three minutes post-contrast, later images often only serve to characterize lesions rather than detect them.

The streamlined protocol can effectively identify breast cancer early in women, including those with dense breast tissue, where the sensitivity of mammography is lower. It offers a significant reduction in time and cost, potentially allowing more frequent screenings and a higher examination rate.