New research finds that compared to mammograms, MRI screenings for breast cancer saved money used for diagnosis and boosted the likelihood that high-risk, underserved women who were specially targeted would return for follow-up appointments. But there’s a big catch. Researchers were able to reduce the cost of an MRI scan to $649 on average -- compared to the usual $3,500 -- thanks to a grant. As a result, the cost per diagnosis was cheaper -- $21,561 for cancers found using MRI and $37,375 for those found using mammography.
