MRI-Guided Breast Biopsy

What is MRI-Guided Breast Biopsy?

MRI-guided breast biopsies use magnetic resonance imaging to guide the Radiologist to the site of the breast abnormality.

Patient Preparation

Call SSR at 360-493-4646 as soon as you are aware of your appointment to review exam instructions and go through the safety screening questions. Certain conditions warrant special instructions. You will be required to have a friend or relative drive you home.

Inform SSR staff about:

  • all medications that you are taking and any allergies you may have
  • recent illnesses or other medical conditions
  • if there is a possibility that you are pregnant

You will be asked to remove any metal objects that may interfere with the scan (such as dentures, hairpins or jewelry) and wear comfortable, metal-free clothing.

Please inform SSR prior to your exam if you:

  • Have a pacemaker
  • Have aneurysm clips
  • Have cochlear (ear) implants
  • Have any metallic implants or devices in the body
  • Have an implant of any type (i.e. prosthetic device, pain pumps, nerve stimulators, heart valves, aneurysm clips, etc.)
  • Have any kidney problems
  • Have history of ear surgery
  • Have history of eye surgery
  • Have history of brain surgery
  • Have history of metal in eye
  • Are or may be pregnant
  • Are breast feeding
  • Are claustrophobic (SSR can provide medication for anxiety if arranged prior to your appointment. You should plan to have someone drive you home. Click here to download the Claustrophobic Patient Forms.

History of previous exams

Have you had any prior studies of the area we are going to be imaging? It is important to give this information to SSR prior to your exam. Be sure to include the facility name and approximate dates/years of exams. This helps us to locate the correct studies and have them available for our Radiologists so they can compare and note any changes that have occurred. If you have a copy of your images, please bring them with you to your appointment.

Exam

  • When you arrive at SSR, a receptionist will give you all of your registration materials for your review. To expedite check in, these materials can be printed online and filled out prior to your appointment by clicking here.
  • Wear clothing that is metal-free, comfortable and easy to remove from the waist up. A gown will be provided for your use.
  • You will need to remove all metal objects before you are scanned, including jewelry, hairpins, glasses, clothes with zippers, keys, etc. The magnet will erase any credit cards.
  • You will be positioned face down on a moveable exam table and the affected breast or breasts will be positioned into openings in the table. A technologist will insert an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your hand or arm and the contrast material gadolinium will be given intravenously. This is similar to a regular breast MRI.
  • Your breast will be gently compressed between two compression plates (similar to those used in a diagnostic MRI exam), one of which is marked with a grid structure. Using computer software, the radiologist measures the position of the lesion with respect to the grid and calculates the position and depth for needle placement.
  • After injecting a local anesthetic into the breast to numb it, a very small nick is made in the skin at the site where the biopsy needle is to be inserted. The Radiologist then guides the needle to the location of the abnormality and MR imaging is performed to verify the needle position.
  • Tissue samples are then removed using a vacuum-assisted device. Vacuum pressure is used to pull tissue from the breast into the sampling chamber of the biopsy needle. Typically, 8 to 10 samples of tissue are collected.
  • After the core samples have been obtained, a small marker may be placed within the breast at the biopsy site so the area can be located in the future if necessary.
  • Once the biopsy is complete, a small bandage is placed over the skin nick. No sutures are required. This procedure is usually completed within 45 minutes to one hour.
  • Afterwards, a 2-view mammogram will be taken.

Results

The results are usually available in three working days. Your referring clinician will receive the pathology report and discuss the findings with you. If cancer is found, your clinician will help you decide on the next step.

Schedule an Appointment!

Has your clinician given you an order or referral for this procedure? Call SSR’s Scheduling Specialists at 360-493-4646 to schedule an appointment. Or, click here for additional information regarding scheduling an appointment.

More Information?

For more information about this and other procedures, visit RadiologyInfo.org.