Exam Services

Radiology Affiliates Imaging offers a variety of diagnostic imaging services and procedures. Please select a procedure listed below to learn more about that study.

Select An Exam 3T MRI Arthrogram Barium Enema Bone Densitometry / DEXA Breast MRI Calcium Scoring CT CT Lung Cancer Screening Diagnostic Mammography General Fluoroscopy High Field Extremity MRI High Field MRI IVP Screening Mammography UGI Ultrasound X-Ray Low Dose

Breast MRI

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What Is A Breast MRI?

Radiology Affiliates is proud to offer our patients MRI breast imaging. Breast MRI is a sophisticated technology that uses a computer, magnetic field and radio waves, instead of X-Rays – to produce images of the soft tissues in the body. This non-invasive procedure helps Radiology Affiliates board-certified mammography trained physicians to better evaluate the breast in special circumstances. When used in conjunction with screening and diagnostic mammography, it can provide valuable information for the detection and characterization of breast disease. Breast MRI does not replace mammography – it is a different imaging technique that provides additional information.

For more information on this and other radiology procedures, please visit: www.radiologyinfo.com

Who Needs A Breast MRI?

Breast MRI is now proven to be more sensitive than any other modality in detecting invasive breast cancer. MRI is superior at demonstrating the size and extent of a breast tumor prior to surgery. In addition, it is beneficial for screening patients at particularly high risk for breast cancer due to genetic predisposition or strong family history, diagnosing breast implant rupture, staging breast cancer and planning treatment. MRI also plays an important role in post-surgical and post-radiation follow-up.

What Should I Expect?

The exam will take approximately 1 hour. This exam should be scheduled 7-10 days after the start of your menstrual cycle. Correct timing is important to minimize false positive findings that can occur due to hormonal influence on the breast tissue.

A Breast MRI does not require your breasts to be compressed, so you should not experience discomfort. When you arrive you will be asked to complete paperwork regarding your history and symptoms. We will escort you into a private dressing room where you can change into a gown and remove all jewelry, since these items contain metal, which disturbs MRI signals. You will enter the machine – head first. So avoid eating a large meal prior to the exam. A female technologist will position you for the scan. During the exam, you will lie on your stomach with your arms up over your head.

Most patients receive an injection of contrast material called gadolinium during the exam through an intravenous injection. A small intravenous catheter will placed in your hand or arm. The injection of contrast material is necessary if the MRI is being performed for the diagnosis of breast cancer. It is sometimes not necessary if the sole intent of the study is to evaluate silicone breast implants. Adverse reactions to gadolinium are rare. There are typically no side effects during or after MRI, so you can resume normal activities as soon as your exam is over.

It is very important that any prior breast films (mammograms, ultrasound, or MRI) be made available to the radiologist for comparison during the interpretation of your MRI scan. If you have had these at a facility other than Radiology Affiliates, please bring them with you on the day of the appointment. After the MRI is read, those films will be returned to the facility where they originated.

If you have any of the items listed below, please call (609) 585-8800 option 5, so we can make arrangements for you before your appointment. Many of these items are contraindications to have an MRI as they are not compatible with the magnetic field present around all MRI machines.

• Cardiac Pacemaker
• Artificial heart valve prostheses
• Aneurysm clips
• Eye implants or metal ear implants or any metal implants activated electronically, magnetically or mechanically.
• Copper 7 IUD
• Shrapnel or non-removed bullet
• Pregnancy
• Weight over 350 lbs.
• Claustrophobia
• Any metal puncture(s) or fragment(s) in eye

When Will I Receive Results?

After your exam, a radiologist will review your images and a report will be sent directly to your physician.

How Do I Make An Appointment?

If you would like to make an appointment, please call (609) 585-8800 and select option 5. Or you can request an appointment on line.