Dr Sugania Reddy and the Mercy Radiology Pilot Study Team

Breast Cancer Cure supported this study by helping fund Dr Annette Lasham and Dr Nicholas Knowlton to analyse the data and publish the findings.

Problem

Mammograms save lives by finding breast cancer early. But they do not work equally well for everyone.

For women with very dense breast tissue, cancer can be harder to see on a standard mammogram. This means some cancers may be missed or found later, when they are harder to treat.

International research has shown that extra imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI, can help find more cancers in women with dense breasts or higher breast cancer risk. Until now, New Zealand has had limited local evidence in this area.

Project

The Mercy-Southern Cross pilot study looked at breast imaging data from more than 2,400 women in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The study explored whether the patterns seen in major international studies are also seen in women receiving breast imaging in New Zealand. The team looked at different types of imaging, including 3D mammograms, ultrasound and MRI.

This was not a trial of a new national screening programme. Instead, it asked an important first question: do New Zealand patients show similar patterns to those seen overseas?

Outcome

The answer was yes.

The study found that extra imaging, including ultrasound and MRI, helped detect some cancers that were not seen on mammograms. This was especially important for women with dense breast tissue.

MRI also helped show how far some cancers had spread once cancer had been found. This can give doctors better information when planning treatment.

These findings show that women in this New Zealand pilot study are broadly similar to the patient groups described in international research. This gives New Zealand clinicians, researchers and health planners stronger local evidence to build on.

Future

The study helps lay the groundwork for more personalised breast imaging in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In the future, women may benefit from screening pathways that take account of their breast density and personal cancer risk, rather than using the same imaging approach for everyone.

The pilot also creates an important base for future studies of artificial intelligence in breast imaging, including AI second-reader tools. These tools could help radiologists review mammograms more consistently and support earlier cancer detection.

Project Update

This study provides important New Zealand evidence that can support future breast screening research, healthcare planning and better patient care.

It shows that findings from international studies on dense breasts and extra imaging are relevant in a New Zealand clinical setting. It also helps prepare the way for future research into AI-assisted breast screening.