What is it?
Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Breast MRI) is not a substitute for mammography and breast ultrasound, but it is a complementary test in special situations, such as diagnosing and assessing the local extent of breast cancer, monitoring chemotherapy or assessing breast prostheses.
How is it done?
Breast MRI scans require sequences to be taken after intravenous paramagnetic contrast has been administered, so your arm or hand will need to be punctured to catheterize a peripheral vein.
This is a non-iodized, non-radioactive contrast that, due to its distribution in the breast tissue, helps to better identify potential lesions/tumors.
During the examination, you will lie in a prone position (on your stomach), with your breasts naturally hanging over the receptacles in the breast study coil.
Your arms will be placed above your head and your head will be resting on its side.
You should remain in this position without moving throughout the examination, while images are acquired before and after the paramagnetic contrast is injected.
Once the various sequences have been acquired and reconstructed, detailed analysis of the images is required, as well as their manipulation to obtain reformatting, quantitative and qualitative assessment of gadolinium uptake by the tissues, so that the radiologist can formulate a diagnosis.
It will always be correlated with the other imaging methods used in breast studies, such as mammography, ultrasound and even previous biopsies.
Breast MRI with Contrast
Paramagnetic contrast will be administered intravenously, so it will be necessary to puncture your arm or hand to catheterize a peripheral vein.
This is a non-iodized, non-radioactive contrast that, due to its distribution in the breast tissue, helps to better identify potential lesions/tumors.
Preparing for Breast MRI
In menopausal women, the only preparation for the examination is a 4-hour fast.
If you need to have a breast MRI scan and you are still menstruating, you should let us know so that your scan can be scheduled according to your menstrual cycle: it should preferably be carried out between the 7th and 14th day.
Agreements and prices of Breast MRI
- ADSE (the user only pays the 30€ co-payment), IASFA, ADM GNR, SAD PSP;
- Insurers: Médis, Multicare, Advance Care, Allianz, Saúde Prime, Future HealthCare, SS CGD, SAMS Quadros, SAMS, Montepio, RNA, Generali, Mudum, MGEN, Aegon, Vitória, Una Seguros, other insurers.
- Health plans: Medicare, Saúde Prime, Future HealthCare, Continente Wells, ACP, other health plans.
The price varies depending on the health system or insurance you want to use.
Learn more about price of MRI.
Where to do it?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging can be done at the NRD, at the following address: Avenida Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, nº 11-B, r/c (Next to Praça de Espanha)1070 – 060 Lisbon
