Breast MRI

What is a breast MRI?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves (instead of x-rays) to produce detailed images of the soft tissues in the body. There is no radiation.

Breast MRI provides detailed pictures of both breasts, the chest wall and the lymph nodes located in the armpits. It helps finds cancers by using a contrast dye that lights up cancers. The contrast dye is critical for cancer detection.

How is breast MRI used at BBDC?

Breast MRI is used:

(1) to help understand a finding seen on mammography or ultrasound

(2) to look closely at an area in the breast that is painful or lumpy, or

(3) to screen for breast cancer in women who have dense breast tissue on a mammogram or are at high-risk for developing breast cancer

(4) to delineate the size and extent of a new breast cancer

(5) to check for rupture of breast implants

What happens during a breast MRI?

A breast MRI is scheduled for 45 minutes.

The first few minutes are spent filling out paperwork and having your intravenous (IV) line placed. The IV line will be placed in your arm.

After this, your will lay face down on the MRI table and you will be moved into the MRI tube with your feet going in first. This is when the images are taken. You will be on the table for 20-30 minutes.

While the images are being taken, a contrast dye will be given through your IV line. The contrast dye is what helps us find breast cancers. Some people say they get a metal taste in their mouth when the contrast dye goes in. This goes away quickly.

When the images are all taken, you will get dressed and leave BBDC. You will get a call within 1-2 days with the exam results.

Check out our brochure which walks you through the exam!

MRI Brochure

Is breast MRI safe?

Yes!

MRI does not use radiation, which is great. Instead, it uses magnets to create an image, which have been shown to be safe.

The contrast dye that is used at BBDC is the safest kind. It is a 'macrocyclic' contrast agent.

Macrocyclic contrast dyes are more stable than the older type of contrast dyes and have less associated problems. All contrast dyes have been shown to deposit in areas of the brain and body, but macrocyclic agents do this at a much lower rate. There is also no evidence to suggest that the deposited contrast dye causes people any clinical problems.

Do I need an order for a breast MRI?

YES!

We need orders to complete any type of breast imaging exam, except for a screening mammogram.

Is breast MRI covered by insurance?

Well, sometimes.

The MRI should be covered if it is performed to work-up a finding seen on mammography, if it is being used to evaluate a breast symptom (ie a lump or pain), or to work-up a new breast cancer diagnosis.

It is sometimes covered for breast cancer screening.

You should talk to your insurance company to see what your policy covers.

This raises the idea of PRIOR-AUTHORIZATION. Prior-authorization is when the insurance company approves an exam before it is performed. BBDC requires prior-authorization for most breast MRI exams. Prior-authorization is obtained by the ordering provider.

If you ever have a tough time getting prior-authorization, just call our office and we will see how we can help.