St. Francis Medical Center has expanded its services to offer MRI examination of the breasts. In addition to the mammogram program, the MRI scanner is also accredited by the American College of Radiology.
The MRI is not a screening tool. Patients need to have a mammogram first. If there is an abnormal result, the patient’s physician can then refer them for an MRI for further review before having a surgical biopsy.
Unlike using an X-ray machine, there is no ionizing radiation involved in an MRI, which uses magnetic and radio waves.
If the MRI detects a problem the image may allow for a biopsy to be performed in a minimally invasive setting. If the biopsy comes back negative, there is likely no need for an invasive surgery procedure.
The MRI may also be helpful when there are dense breasts on a mammogram, which are sometimes difficult to analyze.
During an appointment, a technologist will lead the the patient to the MRI scanning room. The technologist will position the patient face down on a device called a breast coil, which is specifically designed to image the breast.
St. Francis generally uses female technologists for breast MRIs.
Patients can expect to hear humming and buzzing noises, as well as feel the table move while being examined. Unlike mammography, MRI does not use vigorous compression. The imaging takes about one hour.
Following the MRI, the a radiologist examines the results and send a report to the patient’s physician.
St. Francis Medical Center, a member of Catholic Health East/Trinity Inc., is an acute care teaching hospital recently ranked by Consumer Reports in the top five hospitals in NJ for safety and number one in Mercer County.
