Test Overview
uses a magnetic field
and pulses of radio waves to make pictures of the breast. MRI may show problems
in the breast that cannot be seen on a ,
, or
.
The MRI makes pictures that
show your breast's normal structure; tissue damage or disease, such as
infection; inflammation; or a lump. MRI is better than
mammography or ultrasound for looking at some breast
lumps.
In most cases, a dye () may be used so that abnormalities can be seen more clearly
from normal breast tissue. The contrast material makes it easier to find
problems with increased or abnormal blood flow, such as with some types of
cancer or areas of inflammation.
MRI is a safe and valuable test
for looking at the breast, but it has a high rate of
results, and it is more costly than
other methods and is not available in all hospitals.
See pictures
of a and an
.