Apollo Athenaa Revolutionizes Early Breast Cancer Detection with MRI in India

New Delhi: Studies suggest that 10 to 20 per cent of breast cancers can be missed on mammograms, a figure that rises significantly in women with dense breast tissue. These cancers often grow silently without lumps or symptoms and remain undetected by conventional screening tools. The challenge is particularly acute in India, where younger women are increasingly diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, often nearly a decade earlier than their Western counterparts. Addressing this critical diagnostic gap, Apollo Athenaa Women’s Cancer Centre is advancing early breast cancer detection through MRI-Guided Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy (MRI-Guided VABB). Advt This specialised, minimally invasive, expertise-led diagnostic technique enables clinicians to identify and confirm breast cancer at its earliest stages often Stage 0 and Stage 1 when the disease is still small, symptom-free, and highly treatable. Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “The launch of MRI-Guided VABB represents a transformative leap in early diagnosis. It strengthens the entire breast diagnostic pathway with greater precision, speed and clinical confidence, enabling timely and minimally invasive intervention. Most importantly, it reflects our commitment to giving every woman the best possible chance at excellent outcomes, reassurance and dignity." The centre has also integrated high-resolution MRI systems supported by AI-based protocols, reducing breast MRI scan time from nearly 50 minutes to under 15 minutes without compromising image quality or diagnostic confidence. This advancement allows more women with dense breasts or high-risk profiles to access breast MRI—the most sensitive modality for detecting subtle breast abnormalities. The urgency for earlier detection is underscored by Indian data. A large study involving 2,470 breast cancer patients found that 14.3 per cent were younger than 40 years. Alarmingly, nearly 70 per cent of these younger women presented with Stage III or IV disease, while 45.7 per cent were diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)—an aggressive subtype associated with poorer outcomes. Advt “Early detection saves lives,” said Dr.Jyoti Arora, Senior Consultant and Lead, Department of Breast Radiology, Apollo Athenaa Women’s Cancer Centre. “Young women often have dense breasts, making routine screening less effective. These cancers also tend to be biologically aggressive. What worsens outcomes is delayed diagnosis. MRI-Guided VABB allows us to detect and confirm breast cancer—often at Stage 0—before it becomes life-altering,” she said. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Indian women, accounting for 27–28 per cent of all female cancers, according to ICMR–NCDIR. Projections indicate a 170.5 per cent rise in new breast cancer cases and a 200.5 per cent increase in deaths by 2050 Advt Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Indian women, accounting for 27–28 per cent of all female cancers, according to ICMR–NCDIR. Projections indicate a 170.5 per cent rise in new breast cancer cases and a 200.5 per cent increase in deaths by 2050, with a worrying shift towards younger age groups. While mammography continues to play a vital role, its sensitivity is significantly reduced in women with dense breasts, which are more common among younger patients. The clinical impact of MRI-Guided VABB is already evident. A 70-year-old woman recently presented with bloody nipple discharge, an early warning sign of breast cancer. Despite normal mammography and ultrasound findings, further evaluation using MRI-Guided VABB revealed Stage 0 breast cancer (DCIS)—a malignancy invisible to conventional imaging. Early surgical intervention resulted in an excellent prognosis. “This is what true early detection looks like,” Dr. Arora added. “Without MRI-Guided VABB, this cancer could have progressed silently. With it, we were able to intervene before it changed her life.” By , ETHealthWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETHealthworld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETHealthworld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles.