Breast MRI (Magnetic Resonanace Imaging)

Breast MRI is a non-invasive imaging tool that uses radiowaves and strong magnets to capture multiple images of the breast tissue.
It is not recommended as a standard breast cancer screening modality because the mammogram and ultrasound is sufficient and more cost-effective.

 

Indications

  • Screening for breast cancer in selected *high-risk patients eg BRCA gene patients or Hereditary breast cancer
  • Assessing very dense breast tissue when breast mammography and ultrasound is unclear
  • Evaluation for multicentricity or bilaterally of a known cancer
  • Differentiation of scar tissue from recurrent tumor in patients who have undergone breast conserving surgery
  • Evaluating patients with suspicious axillary lymphadenopathy of a possibly unknown primary breast tumor.
  • Evaluate the breast cancer tumor response after treatment
  • Evaluating breast implants

 

High Risk Breast Cancer Patients

  • Family history of breast and ovarian cancer
  • BRCA gene positive patients
  • High risk pathology eg lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), radial scar

 


Breast MRI – patient lies prone into the dedicated breast coils for


Breast MRI – Cancer lumps are well-enhanced on MRI images


Breast MRI showing multiple white bubbles due to silicon injection for breast enhancement (not FDA approved treatment)

 

Reference:

 

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