MR Breast Imaging is the latest advanced diagnostic tool used for evaluation of breast disease. Breast MRI is not used routinely for breast screening, but rather, is sometimes useful to provide more information about a suspicious area detected on a physical exam or x-ray mammogram. MR can often be helpful in providing more diagnostic information about a suspicious area for women who have dense breast tissue, (usually younger women) evaluating the extent of disease. MRI may also play an important role in treatment planning prior to surgery for women with a known breast cancer, because it may help to show the true edges of the cancer. This information could help doctors decide how extensive the surgery will need to be, and whether radiation therapy is likely to be helpful. Breast MR can help show how well a patient is responding to treatment as well.

Breast MRI may also be used for women with silicone breast implants to look for areas of tumor recurrence post-surgery or to look for rupture.

MR Breast exams are noninvasive procedures that require no exam prep and do not use radiation.