ANNUAL SCREENING BREAST MRI
Annual screening breast MRI is recommended by
the American Cancer Society as an adjunct to
annual mammography for women who have a
high lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. This
population includes:
Women who have tested positive for the
BRCA gene mutation (the “breast cancer
gene”) or who have a first degree
relative that tested positive for this gene.
Women who have had ovarian cancer
who have not been tested for the BRCA
gene.
High-Definition
Women who received radiation therapy
to the chest between ages 10 and 30.
Breast MRI
Women who have Li-Fraumeni
syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or
Bannayan-Riley-Ruvacalba
syndrome. Women who have a first
degree relative with these syndromes are
also advised to undergo annual breast
MRI screening.
Women who have a 20 to 25% lifetime
chance of developing breast cancer as
defined by the BRCAPRO or BOADICEA
models.
ROUTINE BREAST MRI
Breast MRI is also recommended in women who
have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer.
Other indications for a breast MRI include
inconclusive findings on routine mammography or
breast ultrasound.
If you have any questions about whether breast
MRI is right for you, please speak with your
physician.
SCHEDULING
(936) 435-7577
DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING @
HUNTSVILLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
(936) 291-4570
HIGH-FIELD OPEN MRI @
OUTPATIENT IMAGING CENTER
(936) 730-1000
SCHEDULING YOUR BREAST MRI
PREPARATION
RESULTS
Timing is important when
scheduling a breast MRI in
order to reduce the chance of a
false positive finding. When you
call to schedule a breast MRI,
you will be transferred to the MRI
technologist who will determine
the best time for you to have
the most accurate breast MRI
possible.
Preparation for a breast MRI is fairly simple.
We ask that you do not eat or drink for four
hours before your test, but you may take
your regular medications with up to eight
ounces of water. We also ask that you do
not use any deodorants or antiperspirants
because many of these products contain an
aluminum-based anti-caking agent that will
interfere with the MRI.
After your scan is complete, the images are
sent to one of our radiologists from Bryan
Radiology Associates who specializes in
interpreting breast MRI.
IF YOU HAVE A REGULAR MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Breast MRI is scheduled between day #5 and day #15
of your cycle.
IF YOU HAVE AN IRREGULAR MENSTRUAL
CYCLE Breast MRI is still scheduled between day #5
and day #15, but if you have started early, please
inform the MRI technologist prior to your scan.
IF YOU TAKE BIRTH CONTROL AND DO NOT
HAVE A MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Breast MRI can be performed at any time. Also, if you
recently stopped birth control and you have not yet
resumed a regular cycle, breast MRI can be performed
at any time.
IF YOU ARE POST-MENOPAUSE
Breast MRI can be performed at any time.
IF YOU ARE ON MOST TYPES OF HORMONE
REPLACEMENT THERAPY
Breast MRI can be scheduled at any time.
IF YOU ARE ON CYCLIC HORMONE
REPLACEMENT THERAPY
Breast MRI needs to be scheduled during the lowest
dose period.
DURING THE SCAN
During the scan you will be asked to lay on
your stomach during the scan, which takes
about 25 minutes. We do have an iPod/
iPhone compatible music system available.
You can either listen to our music or bring in
your iPod or iPhone and listen to your own.
CONTRAST
Breast MRI requires an injection of a special
MRI contrast agent into a vein during the
scan. MRI contrast is gadolinium-based, not
iodine-based, so patients who have iodine
allergies may safely receive MRI contrast
agents.
HIGH FIELD OPEN MRI
Beginning in March 2012, Huntsville
Memorial Hospital will offer breast MRI on
the new 1.2 Tesla Hitachi Oasis High Field
Open MRI in addition to the conventional GE
High-Definition MRI system at the hospital.
HMH is the only facility to offer High Field
Open Breast MRI between Houston and
Dallas!
The radiologist
will also
compare the
MRI images to
your previous
mammograms
and/or breast
ultrasounds, so
we will need to have these available the day
of the exam. If your previous mammograms
were done at HMH, we will have them on
file.
However, if your previous mammograms
were done elsewhere, we will need to obtain
either the actual films or a CD with the
images before we can read your breast MRI.
Typically the results of your breast MRI will
be available to your physician within 24
hours. Delays may occur if we do not have
all the prior mammograms and/or breast
ultrasounds for comparison.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions regarding the
breast MRI procedure, please feel free to call
HMH Radiology at (936) 291-4570 and ask
to speak to one of the MRI technologists.
We will be happy to explain every step of the
process.