Diagnostic Imaging - Jerudong Park Medical Centre

MRI OF THE BREAST is not a substitute formammography or ultrasound imaging but rather isa supplementary tool for detecting and stagingbreast cancer and other breast abnormalities.BREAST MRIMR MAMMOGRAPHYMR imaging does not involve radiation, theprocedure can be used to screen women below 40years old and to increase the number of screeningsper year for women at high risk for breast cancer.MRI is used to:• Evaluate any abnormalities detected bymammography.• Identify early breast cancer not detectedthrough other means, especially in womenwith dense breast tissue and those at highrisk for the disease.• Screen for cancer in women who haveimplants or scar tissue that might jeopardisean accurate result from a mammogram.• Determine the integrity of breast implants.• Distinguish between scar tissue and recurrenttumors.• Assess multiple tumour locations.• Check the progress of chemotherapy.• Look for multiple tumours prior to breastconservation surgery.• Determine whether the cancer detected bymammography or ultrasound has spreadfurther in the breast or into the chest wall.• Determine how much the cancer has spreadbeyond the surgical site after a breast biopsyor lumpectomy.• Provide additional information on a diseasedbreast to make treatment decisions.Radiology Breast MRI • 13