Breast MRI

MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and virtually all other internal body structures without the use of x-rays.  It is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound but rather a complementary tool for detecting and staging breast cancer and other breast abnormalities. 

 Whether utilized to further investigate a suspicious lesion or as a screening tool for women with high risk, MRI’s high sensitivity in revealing small abnormalities can better determine the extent of breast cancer and the most effective treatment plan.   It can show whether a breast cancer is one or multiple small tumors and if the cancer has spread into the chest wall.  Studies have also shown that MRI scans of women diagnosed with cancer in one breast reveals 90 percent of cancers in the other breast that were not visible on mammograms.  Since research has determined 10 percent of women diagnosed with cancer in one breast will develop it in the other, this news is significant.  It allows physicians to treat both cancers upon the initial diagnosis. 

Breast MRI Exam

For a breast MRI, you will lie face down on a platform specially designed for the procedure. The platform has openings to accommodate your breasts and allow them to be imaged without compression. The electronics needed to capture the MRI image are actually built into the platform. Learn more about an MRI exam and how to prepare for it.