Mri of the breast

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of the organs and structures inside the body. An MRI can give your doctor information about your breasts, chest wall, and underarm.

When you have an MRI, you lie on a table and the table moves into the MRI machine.

An abbreviated breast MRI is a newer test that takes less time than a standard MRI. (You might hear it called a "fast MRI.") This test is something your breast cancer screening center may offer. As a newer test, an abbreviated breast MRI may not be covered by insurance.

An MRI of the breast is done to:

• Find breast cancer. Breast MRI may be done when a mammogram or breast ultrasound scan cannot tell if a lump is cancer.
• Check women who are at increased risk for breast cancer. This includes women with:
  • Gene changes (such as BRCA).
  • Close family members who have had breast cancer.
  • A history of radiation therapy to the chest as a child.
• Choose the best treatment for breast cancer. It may also be used to check breast tissue changes during treatment.
• Check breasts with nipple changes for signs of breast cancer. These changes include inverted nipples, nipples with scaly skin that flakes off, and nipples with abnormal discharge.
• Check women with breast implants. MRI may be used to look for breast cancer or to check if the implant is leaking.

Women at increased risk for breast cancer may have screening tests that alternate between MRIs and mammograms. This is done because the tests can detect different kinds of problems.

• You may have contrast material (dye) put into your arm through a tube called an I.V.
• You will lie on a table that's part of the MRI scanner.
• The table will slide into the space that contains the magnet.
• Inside the scanner, you will hear a fan and feel air moving. You may hear tapping, thumping, or snapping noises. You may be given earplugs or headphones to reduce the noise.
• You will be asked to hold still during the scan. You may be asked to hold your breath for short periods.
• You may be alone in the scanning room. But a technologist will watch through a window and talk with you during the test.

In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to.

Tell your doctor if you get nervous in tight spaces. You may get a medicine to help you relax. If you think you'll get this medicine, be sure you have someone to take you home.

The radiologist may discuss the results of the MRI with you right after the test. Complete results are usually available to your doctor in 1 to 2 days.

An MRI scan can sometimes find a problem in a breast, even when the size and shape of the breast looks normal.