Breast MRI: When Is It Recommended?

You have already had a mammogram and breast ultrasound, and then your doctor mentions a breast MRI, and you might be thinking ‘so why the MRI as well?’ The simple answer is that different scans are good at showing different things. Mammograms are still commonly used for breast cancer screening, while an MRI tends to be brought in when there is a reason to look a little more closely. For some women that is because they have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. In other cases, there may already be something on another scan that doctors want more information about. Having an MRI referral on its own does not tell you what the outcome is going to be. It is another imaging tool, and there are several situations where using it makes sense.

When Your Breast Cancer Risk Is Higher

Not everyone has the same risk of developing breast cancer. Family history can play a role, as can certain inherited genetic changes and other factors your doctor may take into account when working out your overall risk. For women who fall into a high-risk group, a breast MRI may be used as part of regular screening together with mammography. It is not usually a case of swapping one test for the other. The MRI gives doctors another way of looking at the breast and can detect some cancers that mammography may miss in high-risk women. Whether that applies to you is something your doctor will work out from your individual risk rather than simply your age.

When Something Needs Another Look

If you have already had a mammogram, being told you now need another scan can be confusing, but the important part to remember is being told you need another scan, does not mean cancer. Breast tissue is complicated, and one type of imaging doesn’t always answer every question your radiologist and doctor might have. At Well Women, mammography is routinely performed together with a In some cases, your radiologist may still want the additional detail that an MRI can provide.

So how does MRI work with your breasts?

MRI works differently from a mammogram, Instead of X-rays, it uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the breast in much the same way it does for any other part of the body!

What If I Have Dense Breasts?

Dense breasts are actually pretty common, often more so than people first realise, and a lot of women only find out they have them after a mammogram. What it means is that there is more glandular and fibrous tissue in the breast. On a mammogram, that tissue can make certain areas harder to see properly. It is also linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, but having dense breasts does not suddenly mean you need an MRI every year. There is more to it than that. Your doctor will usually look at your breast density together with your age, family history and any other risk factors before deciding whether another type of scan would be useful. For one woman, that might mean extra imaging. For someone else, it may not change anything at all.

After Breast Cancer Has Been Found

There are also situations where the question is no longer whether breast cancer is present. After breast cancer has been diagnosed, an MRI may be used to give doctors a clearer picture before they decide on treatment. Not every breast cancer diagnosis requires an MRI and having one does not mean the cancer is automatically more serious, rather It depends on the case and what the treating team still needs to know.

Why Have I Been Sent for One?

There is no single answer. For one woman, an MRI might be part of higher-risk screening. For someone else, it might be there because a mammogram or ultrasound raised a question that needs another look. It can also be used after a breast cancer diagnosis or when certain implant problems are being investigated. If you have been told to go for a breast MRI and the reason isn’t clearly explained, ask your doctor or radiologist. It is much easier going into the appointment when you know what they are actually looking for. Well Women offers breast MRI as part of its specialised breast imaging services. If you have been referred for an MRI and want to know what the appointment involves, speak to the Well Women team before your visit and we can take you through the process.