Breast MRI is a non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat breast conditions. It is a valuable tool that provides information that other imaging services, such as mammography or ultrasound, cannot answer. MRI imaging of the breast is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound, but rather is a supplemental tool for detecting and staging breast cancer and other breast abnormalities. It is performed for some of the following reasons:

• To identify early breast cancer, especially in women with dense breast tissue and those at high risk for the disease
• To evaluate abnormalities detected by mammography and/or ultrasound
• To distinguish between scar tissue and recurrent tumors
• To determine if cancer has spread further in the breast or into the chest wall
• To assess the effect of chemotherapy or radiation
• To provide additional information on a diseased breast to make treatment decisions.

Preparation
The technologist will call you prior to the day of the scheduled exam and let you know about preparing for your breast MRI. It is important to perform the testing within a specific time frame of the menstrual cycle, to insure accuracy: no less than 7 days after onset of menses and no later than 15 days afterward.  Learn more about preparation, registration and results.            

The Procedure
You will lie face down on a table with your breasts positioned in cushioned openings of a specialized breast coil.  The coil acts as a signal receiver that works with the MRI unit to create the images. An intravenous line (IV) will be started and an injection of gadolinium will be administered and images will be taken both before and during the injection.
 
MRI exams include multiple imaging runs, some of which may last several minutes. The imaging session lasts between 30 minutes and one hour.  

Let the technologist know if you might be pregnant. Also, because the MRI machine is a confined space, some people become anxious during the test. If you are claustrophobic, check with your doctor beforehand to see if medication is an option.