Indications for Breast MRI

At Pacific Breast Care, we use a state-of- the-art breast MRI to diagnose and manage breast disease. The magnet is a Siemens Espree 1.5 Tesela with the latest breast software and a 16-channel breast Sentinele coil. An MRI is an important diagnostic and screening tool in breast imaging, allowing us to perform intervention such as MRI-guided core need biopsies and localized procedures while making the procedure more comfortable for patients.

Indications for Breast MRI:

• Strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer.
  
  
• Personal history of breast and/or ovarian cancer and dense breast tissue on mammography.
  
  
• Clinically suspicious lump with a normal mammogram and ultrasound.
  
  
• Positive HALO study with no mammographic or sonographic correlate.
  
  
• History of a high risk lesion on prior biopsy: LCIS, ADH, ALH.
  
  
• Evaluation of clear or bloody spontaneous nipple discharge.
  
  
• History of silicone injections into the breast itself.
  
  
• Malignant unilateral axillary lymph nodes if known primary has not been detected.
  
  
• Dense breast tissue on mammography after age 45.
  
  
• History of chest radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma before age 30.
  
  
• Silicone implant evaluation if replacement is considered (non-contrast).

If you are considering an MRI for one of your patients, please have them schedule a consultation with our physicians. Our staff will then be able to pre-authorize the MRI for the patient prior to imaging. Your patients are assured of receiving personalized, gentle and exceptional care from Pacific Breast Care staff members, whether during a screening, a diagnostic digital mammogram, an ultrasound, an MRI or a consultation.