BIOMED SCAN can help evaluate breast cancers, look for new or unsuspected areas of cancer, check for the status of a previous tumor, determine if an abnormal area is growing or has spread to other parts of the body, and assess lymph nodes. It can also determine if an area seen on mammogram needs to be biopsied. It is often recommended as an annual test to supplement mammography in women at high risk for breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about whether MRI screening is right for you.

What to Expect

When you arrive for an MRI, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown and lock up any personal items. You may be given earplugs to protect your ears from the loud clicking noise made by the MRI machine. You will be asked to lie very still during the MRI scan, which takes 30 to 45 minutes.

During the MRI, a magnetic field is created and pulses of radio waves are sent from the scanner. The radio waves knock the nuclei of hydrogen atoms in your body out of their normal alignment, and they send back radio signals that computers convert into images. The images can then be viewed on a monitor.

For some MRI procedures, you will be given a contrast dye to make certain the areas being evaluated are visible. If you have any allergies, you should tell a member of the healthcare team before your test. The contrast dye is usually given through a vein in the arm and can cause problems in some people, especially those with kidney issues.