Determining whether you are a candidate for a breast MRI exam can be difficult. The American Cancer Society recommends that women at "high risk" for breast cancer add a MRI screening to their yearly mammogram. The following are criteria for women who may be at increased risk for breast cancer or who may be appropriate candidates for a breast MRI.

 

• Do you have a personal or family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer?

• Have you been tested and found to have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation?

• Do you have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, or child) with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, and have not had genetic testing yourself?

• Have you had radiation to the chest between the ages of 10 and 30?

• Do you have Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, or have one of these syndromes in first-degree relatives?

• Have you been told that you have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 20% to 25% or greater, according to risk assessment tools based mainly on family history?

• Have you been told that you are at moderately increased lifetime risk (15% to 20%) for developing breast cancer? If yes, you should talk with your doctor about the benefits and limitations of adding a MRI screening to your yearly mammogram.

 

 

In addition to screening of high-risk women, breast MRI is used for the following purposes :

 

• To evaluate implant integrity and detect cancer in women with breast augmentation

• To determine the extent of recently diagnosed cancer

• To monitor cancer therapy

• To assess cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors

 

For more information, download and print the pdf brochure, and discuss with your docotor whether breast MRI is right for you.