SERVICES - MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.
MR imaging uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and virtually all other internal body structures. The images can then be examined on a computer monitor, printed or copied to CD. MRI does not use ionizing radiation (x-rays).
Detailed MR images allow physicians to better evaluate parts of the body and certain diseases that may not be assessed adequately with other imaging methods such as x-ray, ultrasound or computed tomography (also called CT or CAT scanning).
To learn more about MR technology, visit the Radiology Society of North America’s webpage on the subject!
Pre-appointment Do’s and Don’ts:
Do’s:
Do inform our office at least 24 hours before your appointment if you:
· Are claustrophobic, or feel uncomfortable in enclosed spaces;
· Have a pacemaker, brain aneurism clip, artificial heart valve(s) or vascular stent(s), nerve stimulator, metal fragment in the eyes, or metallic imprints.
Do arrange to have a friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment if you are receiving sedation for your scan.
Do wear comfortable clothing without metal clips, buttons, or decorations.
Do take any medicines as prescribed.
Don’ts:
Don’t wear jewelry to your appointment. |
Scheduling availability:
Appointments are available with a referral or prescription from your physician Monday – Friday, 8am to 7pm.
Equipment: GE 1.5T
Tech(s): Danielle, Beth
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Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A breast MRI is a high-resolution way of visualizing the breast without radiation. It is useful when a doctor suspects there is a tumor that is not showing up during a physical exam or mammography. It may also be used to determine the size and extent of a known tumor.
Breast MRI can be used in addition to mammography or ultrasound. Doctors use MRI when they suspect the presence of an "occult" breast cancer. This is when a woman has a swollen underarm lymph node that is found, by aspiration or biopsy, to contain cancer cells, yet no sign of cancer appears on a breast exam and mammogram. In most such patients, breast MRI can identify the site of the cancer if that particular cancer originated from the breast. MRI can also be used to examine the chest wall or pectoral muscles for suspected cancer, as these areas are hard to reach with mammography.
Another feature of breast MRI is its ability to detect hidden second cancers in the breast of a woman who has already been diagnosed with one cancer. In some cases, the detection of a second cancer in the same breast may alter treatment approaches in selecting lumpectomy and radiation therapy (in the case of a single breast cancer) versus mastectomy (if more than one cancer is found in the breast).
A potential downside to using breast MRI is its ability to detect lesions that are not cancerous, but are suspicious enough to require a surgical biopsy procedure. Additional roles of breast MRI that are under evaluation include its use in detecting cancers in the opposite breast of a patient with one breast cancer already diagnosed.
Doctors also use breast MRI to determine the size and extent of a known tumor in a breast cancer patient. This is especially useful if the cancer is difficult to measure by mammography, as can be the case with an infiltrating lobular cancer. If you are taking anticancer drugs to shrink a tumor before surgery (a process called neoadjuvant therapy) MRI can help reveal whether the tumor is responding to the medication. In addition, MRI may be used to check for recurrences after lumpectomy.
Breast MRI requires special equipment designed specifically for breasts. To have an MRI, you lie very still within a large machine, face down, with your breasts suspended into a cushioned, bra-like holder. Your face and head are near the open ends of the magnet chamber. During the procedure, a dye is injected into your arm. Short bursts of high-frequency waves stimulate hydrogen atoms in cells to emit signals that are collected and turned into an image by a computer. The image is made in 5-10 sequences, each of which is 3-5 minutes long, with breaks in between. The entire examination takes about 45 minutes.
Pre-appointment Do’s and Don’ts:
Do’s:
Do inform our office of any previous mammograms you have had and where we may retrieve copies of the results.
Do wear a two-piece outfit for easy changing of upper garments.
Don’ts
Don’t wear lotion, deodorant, or perfume on your breasts or underarms if possible. |
Scheduling availability:
Screening and diagnostic appointments are available by referral only
Mondays-Wednesdays from 8am to 5pm
Machine: GE 1.5T
Tech(s): Danielle, Beth
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