Breast MRI

A breast MRI is recommended if:

• You've been diagnosed with breast cancer and your doctors want to determine the extent of the cancer.
• Your cancer was found in one breast and doctors want to closely check the opposite breast.
• You or your doctor feel a mass or lump in your breast, but it's undetectable on a mammogram or ultrasound.
• You suspect that your breast implant has ruptured.
• You're at high risk of breast cancer, defined as a lifetime risk of 20-25% or more.
• You have a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer.
• You have very dense breast tissue, and your prior breast cancer wasn't detected on a mammogram.
• You have a history of precancerous breast changes, such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ.
• You have breast cancer cells in your lymph nodes, but your mammogram and ultrasound cannot find the cancer.

Breast MRIs can still miss some breast cancers that a mammogram will detect; a mammogram is still a necessary test for cancer detection – even if you undergo a breast MRI.

Breast MRIs follow the same procedural steps as an MRI scan. However, unlike a standard MRI, a breast MRI requires you to lie face down on a comfortable MRI bed. The bed has a large opening to accommodate your breasts without compression.

• Before your scan, you will be given a contrast dye to help the MRI machine image your breast with more detail and accuracy. Unlike other contrast dyes, the dye used for a breast MRI does not expose you to radiation.
• Once you’ve received your contrast dye, you lie on the MRI bed as it enters the MRI machine.
• While your breasts are scanned, it is normal for the machine’s magnet to make loud and repetitive tapping noises.
• The computer processes the information sent by the magnet and radio waves, then produces an image. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
• The test itself is painless, but patients who are claustrophobic may experience some discomfort.
• An MRI technician is in a separate room. They monitor you and the machine, and a microphone allows you to speak to the technician throughout the entire procedure.

Unlike X-rays, breast MRIs are free of radiation, safe and non-invasive. However, due to the incredibly strong magnetic field generated by the machine, it is important to make sure there is no metal in your body before entering the machine.

Your doctor will ask you to remove jewelry, watches, dentures and any other object that could pose a risk to you during the procedure.

Prior to your scan, be sure to inform your doctor if you have any of the following:

• Artificial heart valves
• Cochlear implants
• Hearing aids
• Implanted nerve stimulators
• Metal fragments such as shrapnel
• Metal joints
• Pacemaker
• Pins or screws

If you receive abnormal results, it’s likely that you’ll need to return for additional exams and further imaging. Your radiologist may recommend a breast biopsy.

When breast cancer is detected, breast MRIs allow your care team to begin creating a treatment protocol immediately.

It’s important to note that 80% of lumps are not cancerous and considered benign. While some cancers detected by breast MRIs are aggressive and unable to be treated, we're committed to early detection – including genetic testing and counseling. This is why we urge each of our patients to come in for regular screenings.

You could potentially benefit from fast breast MRI if:

• You have dense breast tissue.
• You had a normal screening on a mammogram within the past year.
• You were denied insurance coverage for a conventional breast MRI.

Fast breast MRI can be used as a replacement for a conventional breast MRI. However, if you have a high risk for breast cancer, current guidelines still recommend a conventional breast MRI to detect a wider range of diseases.

Breast tissue is a mixture of fibrous, glandular and fatty tissue.

Breasts are considered dense if they contain more fibrous or glandular tissue than fatty tissue.

Dense breast tissue can make it more difficult for radiologists to spot cancer on mammograms. Both dense tissue and masses will appear similar on a mammogram.

Therefore, mammograms can be less accurate in women with dense breasts.

Early detection is the best cancer prevention, so it’s important to get regular screenings and know all the available testing options – like breast MRI and fast breast MRI.

No.

Even with dense breasts, mammograms are the only imaging exam proven to reduce breast cancer mortality. Regular mammograms detect changes in the pattern of your breast tissue, which is critical for early cancer detection.

A mammogram will still be required prior to a fast breast MRI.