BREAST MRI

WHAT IS MRI?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging
It uses a magnetic field to create images within the body
No radiation is used
Contrast (“dye”) is usually given via a vein in breast MRI, to create better images with more information

Not everyone with a breast problem or breast cancer requires MRI scanning
It can be very useful in certain situations and will be discussed with you if you fit one of these

Currently there is only a Medicare rebate available for breast MRI in the screening of women under 50 who are considered at high risk for breast cancer based on their family history of cancer
Outside this indication, your surgeon may recommend breast MRI in situations where s/he feels conventional imaging (mammogram and/or ultrasound) is not providing adequate information
MRI is the best tool in looking for leaking implants

MRI is an excellent breast cancer screening tool - but does not completely replace mammogram as some cancerous changes may not show up on MRI but can on mammogram

Whilst breast MRI is more effective than mammogram and/or ultrasound in detecting breast cancer, it can still “not see” them
Breast MRI may find lesions we otherwise wouldn’t have seen which are ultimately proved to be benign – but this may involve additional testing and often anxiety for the woman involved
MRI can lead to “over treatment” of breast cancer if it indicates the cancer may be bigger than it actually is, or by finding additional “spots” of possible cancer in either breast which might actually turn out benign or would have been treated adequately without any additional treatment to what was already planned
Some women find being in the MRI scanner quite claustrophobic (though sometimes a mild sedative may help)
MRI may not be possible in pregnancy and/or breast feeding

If you are pre menopausal, your surgeon will attempt to time your MRI for day 6-16 of your cycle; this facilitates better picture quality of your breast tissue
You will be asked to lie face down on a soft table with the breasts passing through a gap to hang within a magnetic coil – where the pictures are generated from
Once you are positioned, the MRI technician will leave the room and the table you are lying on will slide forward into a tunnel
An intravenous injection is common and helps provide more information about the breast tissue
The process uses a magnetic field – you should alert your surgeon to any metal which may be in your body and take off any metal jewellery / hairclips / watches / etc.
The scan is quite noisy and can take around 20 minutes
There is no compression or radiation
If you feel anxious or claustrophobic at any time and need assistance, you will have a button to call for help