How often may mammography be performed in high-risk patients?

• A. Every year
• B. Every two years
• C. Every six months
• D. Only after MRI results are abnormal

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that screening for women at high risk uses multiple imaging tools to catch cancers early, balancing sensitivity with the risks of repeated radiation. In high-risk individuals, mammography is still performed regularly, typically on an annual schedule, because it can detect calcifications and architectural changes that MRI may miss. MRI adds sensitivity, especially in dense breasts, but it does not replace mammography and is usually done as part of an overall annual screening plan.

Choosing a six-month interval for mammography would significantly increase radiation exposure without clear evidence of additional benefit, and mammography is not something you wait for or rely on only if MRI results are abnormal. If MRI shows a concerning finding, that prompts further workup, but routine screening mammography remains a yearly part of the surveillance strategy.

So the standard approach is annual mammography as part of a comprehensive high-risk screening plan that may also include annual MRI, rather than a six-month mammography schedule.