Why might I need a breast MRI scan?

An MRI of the breast is done to:

• Find breast cancer. Breast MRI may be done when a mammogram or breast ultrasound scan cannot tell if a lump is cancer.
• Check women who are at high risk for breast cancer. MRI may be recommended as a screening tool for very high-risk women, such as those who test positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene or who have two or more close family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer before age 50.
• Check women who have dense breast tissue.
• Check the opposite breast. MRI is sometimes used to evaluate the opposite breast in women diagnosed with certain types of breast cancer.
• See what stage of breast cancer is present so the best treatment can be chosen.
• Look at breast tissue changes during treatment for breast cancer.
• Check breasts with inverted nipples for any sign of breast cancer.
• Find a breast implant rupture. MRI of the breast is the best test for this purpose.
• Look at a suspicious area of the breast for women with breast implants.