October 14, 2008

Breast MRI Technology Available at Saint Mary’s Hospital

Ministry Health Care is pleased to announce the Radiology Department at Saint Mary’s Hospital has added breast MRI as a new modality which is now available to women in our area.  Breast MRI is a powerful tool in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer and is an important addition for local patients.  Breast MRI is used in conjunction with and as a complement to mammography and breast ultrasound in very specific situations to help radiologists and the patient’s provider decide about a breast abnormality or a course of action if a patient has a known cancer. The procedure is done in the MRI scanner, not in the mammography department and is performed with female mammography technicians helping position the patient and making her comfortable.  The exam takes about 30-40 minutes to perform and is read by the radiologist with the results given to the patient’s primary care provider.

Indicators for a breast MRI include:

• Women who have a high lifetime risk of 20-25% of developing breast cancer based on multiple risk factors.
• Women who have a genetic mutation called BRCA1 or BRCA2 or have a 1st degree relative with this mutation.
• Women who have a very strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

Breast MRI can also be of benefit for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer from a mammogram, ultrasound or by physical exam to help the surgeon and oncologist decide the extent of disease or if there are other areas of cancer in the other breast. Breast MRI can also be of used for selected patients where the patient’s mammogram and/or ultrasound are equivocal.

According to Dr. Steven Brown, radiologist at Saint Mary’s Hospital, "While breast MRI can be extremely important and helpful to patients it is very important to realize that it does not take the place of a women’s annual screening mammogram, which is still the standard screening for breast cancer. Working with the patient’s primary care provider and/or surgeon, we as radiologists can help a patient and her provider decide if a breast MRI would have any benefit for her."

For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Saint Mary’s Hospital radiology department at 715-361-2150.