 |  | |||
|
Patients |
|
|
|
|
|
What Women Need to Know About Breast MRIPhysicians and other caregivers must recognize that patient questions about breast MRI are rapidly increasing as local and national media cover this important advance. Important facts women should know about breast MRI and breast care include:Breast cancer is predicted to affect one in eight women, and early detection is the key to successful treatment. The mainstays of breast cancer early detection remain breast self-exam, clinical exam, and mammography. Breast MRI does not eliminate the need for these other techniques. No imaging test is perfect. Although Breast MRI is expected to be more accurate than mammography, false positive and false negative results will undoubtedly occur. Therefore, clinically suspicious palpable lumps should be biopsied. Breast MRI requires special MRI equipment and professional dedication. Exams should be performed using high-field strength scanners capable of very rapidly obtaining hundreds of high-resolution images of both breasts within seconds of GD-DTPA injection. Dedicated breast coils (imaging tools) must be used. Low or mid-field strength scanners such at Open MRI, and most existing MRI devices are not capable of performing the optimal exam. Breast MRI-SummaryContrast enhanced dynamic breast MRI is rapidly filling a vital role in breast cancer detection and staging. The preponderance of mounting scientific literature indicates that carefully performed exams on proper equipment provide more sensitive, specific, and accurate information compared to all other methods, including mammography. A key aspect of this exam is careful patient selection to include those women at high risk of breast cancer, women with known breast cancer undergoing staging, as well as advanced imaging evaluation in women who have equivocal physical exams or uncertain results after other imaging procedures.MRI is now available at RMG Encinitas and the Mercy Magnetic Imaging Center, and will soon be available at RMG First and Laurel Imaging Center. Although further research will clearly be forthcoming, RMG is now compelled to introduce Elective Breast MRI for an affordable cash-pay price (see Discounted Fees) when not covered by insurance, and offers Diagnostic Breast MRI as a problem-solving tool.
|
