MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. An MRI of your breasts produces detailed pictures that can be examined on a computer or printed. MRI does not use X-rays.

MRI of the breast is a supplemental tool for detecting and staging breast cancer and other breast abnormalities and is rapidly establishing itself as an essential tool for breast cancer staging and treatment. It allows doctors to better evaluate breast conditions (including breast tissue density and cysts) that may not be assessed adequately by mammography or ultrasound.

Among the most common uses of breast MRIs are (a) to evaluate of abnormalities detected by mammography, (b) to identifuy early breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue, and (c) to identify early breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease, including women who carry or whose primary relative (parent, sibling, child) carries an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, women who had chest wall radiation as a child or young adult, and women who have a personal history of breast cancer.

MRIs and Mammograms

Mammograms (along with breast self-exams) are the recommended screening tool for detecting breast cancer. Below are some reasons why MRIs are not the standard screening tool.

• MRI is a very sensitive technique and often shows many areas that could be abnormal. It is less specific, and many of the areas that "light up" are benign, or just normal breast tissue under influence of hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle.
• The cost of the examinations has become a public health issue because the number of women eligible to be screened for breast cancer is so large. Mammography is reimbursed by most insurance providers, including Medicare, but there is no consistent policy about the use of US and MRI for breast cancer screening. The cost of US is approximately that of mammography, but MRI costs well over $1,000 for each exam because the equipment is expensive to purchase and costly to run.

How does an MRI work?

During an MRI of the breast, the patient lies on her stomach on a scanning table. The breasts are suspended in a depression in the table, which contains coils that detect the magnetic signal. The patient may be given a contrast agent intravenously to improve the visibility of a tumor. The examination takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour.

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