Abbreviated Breast MRI: The Latest

Targeted CE per ARRT’s Discipline, Category, and Subcategory classification for enrollments starting after February 10, 2026:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: 3.00
Procedures: 3.00
Body: 3.00

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Rationale for Abbreviated MRI
3. Taxonomy of Abbreviated MRI
   1. Short Protocols
      1. FAST MRI
      2. UF MRI
      3. FAST or UF
   2. Abridged-Protocol MRI
   3. Noncontrast Abbreviated MRI
4. Scientific Evidence
   1. Diagnostic Accuracy of Abbreviated versus Full-Protocol MRI
   2. Diagnostic Accuracy of UF versus FAST MRI
   3. Clinical Performance of Abbreviated MRI
      1. Screening
      2. Surveillance after Beast Conservation Surgery
      3. Diagnostic Assessment
5. Operational Issues with Implementing Abbreviated MRI
6. Future Directions
7. Conclusion

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will:

1. list techniques for reducing the acquisition time of MRI pulse sequences
2. describe the first clinical application of abbreviated MRI
3. list current clinical applications of abbreviated MRI
4. Describe the purpose for which abbreviated breast MRI was first proposed
5. identify the diagnostic criteria assessed in breast MRI
6. list the imaging requirements when evaluating enhancement of breast tissues on MRI
7. identify the enhancement phase where contrast between lesions and background tissue is highest
8. describe the timing of the early postcontrast phase of enhancement
9. define the first abbreviated MRI technique to focus on the early postcontrast period
10. list the images included in full breast MRI protocols
11. define the criteria for multiparametric breast MRI protocols
12. list the subtypes of abbreviated MRI protocols
13. describe the acquisitions included in the FAST MRI protocol
14. describe the timing of postcontrast imaging in FAST MRI
15. identify the imaging scan plane that allows bilateral imaging with the fewest image sections
16. define the technique used for selective visualization of contrast agent enhancement
17. describe the image reformatting process of MIP fusion
18. identify the image features of UF MRI
19. list methods for time-resolved MR angiography
20. identify the target structure used for comparison of lesion enhancement timing in UF MRI
21. list the imaging protocols for which UF MRI is explored as a component in research studies
22. list the imaging techniques included in abridged MRI protocols
23. define abridged MRI protocols that include additional postcontrast dynamic acquisitions
24. identify the timing of contrast agent washout from cancerous tissues following injection
25. describe the speeds of contrast agent wash-in and wash-out in aggressive cancers
26. describe the speeds of contrast agent wash-in and wash-out in fibroadenomas
27. list the sequences that replace DCE sequences in noncontrast abbreviated MRI
28. list methods for reducing the risk associated with GBCA administration
29. describe the process for breast cancer detection using DWI
30. compare apparent diffusion coefficient values between invasive cancers and normal tissues
31. identify the study format that provides better validity comparing abbreviated and full MRI protocols
32. compare the diagnostic criteria of UF MRI protocols with those of full breast MRI protocols
33. describe the requirements for a comparison of FAST and UF MRI diagnostic performance
34. describe the sensitivity of abbreviated MRI reported in the EA1141 cancer screening study
35. compare the specificities of abbreviated MRI and DBT as reported in the EA1141 study
36. identify a key requirement to using FAST MRI for population-wide screening
37. list the preferred MRI techniques for cancer screening when paired with AI-based analysis
38. list the target populations for cancer screening in future research using abbreviated MRI