Recent study reveal that women opting for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans often end up with more aggressive surgery which wasn't even necessary. Moreover MRIs scans didn't improve a woman's chance of surviving cancer or her chances of avoiding a recurrence of tumors.

Research team led by Nehmat Houssami, University of Sydney and Daniel F. Hayes, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centre analyzed various studies based on the preoperative use of MRI, which relies on magnetic waves, against mammograms and similar tests that use radiation to take pictures of breast tissue.

Data from the study revealed that as compared to other conservative approaches MRI increases the chances of more extensive surgery. Moreover it doesn't improve surgical treatment or outcomes.

Dr. Daniel Hayes, clinical director of breast oncology at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and a co-author of the study said that while there is no doubt that MRIs are more sensitive than mammograms, it's not clear that the technique is more specific than mammography.

Studies of each diagnostic screen have shown that compared to mammograms, MRIs can pick up additional cancer lesions 16% of the time. But the question is whether they are biologically important.