BIOMED SCAN uses special imaging to create very detailed pictures of the breast tissue. It can detect early-stage cancers that may be missed on mammography and ultrasound. It can also help doctors find the site of an abnormal lesion and determine whether a lump or mass is likely to be cancerous. MRI can also help doctors decide if additional testing, such as an ultrasound or biopsy, is needed.

You will lie on a padded table that slides into the opening of a large tube-like machine. The machine creates a magnetic field and sends out pulses of radio waves that knock the nuclei (parts) of your body’s atoms out of their normal position. Then the machine sends back signals that tell a computer to make a picture of the area being studied. The computer then puts the images on a monitor.

Crystal Clear: Understanding the Role and Importance of Breast MRI

The exam usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. You must remain very still during the scan because movement can interfere with the quality of the pictures. You will be given a pair of earplugs to wear to reduce the noise from the MRI machine. You will hear tapping and thumping sounds when the images are being recorded.

If you have silicone breast implants, MRI can help your doctor see if the gel inside them has ruptured. MRI can also detect changes in scar tissue from surgery for breast cancer. These changes can be a sign of recurrent cancer or normal maturation of the scar tissue.