MRI-Guided Breast Biopsy

There are a few things we ask you to do to prepare before your procedure.

• Before the scan, we will determine if the imaging service is best for you by taking a complete medical history. If there is any question about your kidney function, your ordering physician will order a blood test called "creatinine clearance."
• We may use a contrast dye called gadolinium. Please let us know if you have ever had a reaction to contrast dye (different from the dye used in a CT exam.) For most people, this is not an issue.
• We ask that you do not take medicines that can thin the blood unless you are directed to continue taking them by your referring physician. Some patients may have special reasons to stay on their blood thinners, such as a clotting disorder. Always listen to your referring clinician regarding those decisions. We advise against taking aspirin if you are solely on it for prevention reasons. 

• Your technologist will place a small catheter called an IV in your arm. You will lie comfortably on your abdomen with your breasts gently suspended with the excess room. Your head will be near the end of the magnet so you can see out. Your forehead rests on a special pad like a massage table with a mirror so you can see all around you. The MRI we use features a large bore opening called an “Open Solution MRI.”
• The technologist will inject the contrast while you lie comfortably. You may feel a warm sensation for a few seconds during the injection.
  The magnet makes a loud clunking sound, so the technologists will fit you with comfortable headphones, and you may choose to listen to music through the headphone that makes the magnet sound indistinct. Many patients actually find the exam soothing because of the music and may fall asleep.
• It is important not to move quickly or jerk during the exam because this may cause irregularities in the images constituted from signals of the magnets.
• You will see several assistants to help with the procedure: the technologist, the radiologist, and a patient navigator.
• The technologist will obtain MRI images for targeting, and contrast dye will be injected to show the lesion.
• The radiologist will anesthetize the skin with a tiny numbing needle and use MRI guidance to see exactly where the abnormality is located in 3D space.
• Another special needle called a “probe” is inserted at the target site, more anesthetic is given through that probe, and a light vacuum is directed to the lesion. A clip is placed at the biopsy site so that we know exactly where the tissue sample originated. The sample is then delivered to the pathologist.

• We ask that you refrain from vigorous activities for one to two days after the procedure. If you are planning an active vacation to include swimming or similar active pursuits, consider postponing the biopsy until you return. Even though there will be only a tiny nick on the skin, we want to minimize the chance of soreness, infection, or bleeding at the site.  
• You will likely experience slight bruising of the breast for a few days. Some women may complain of feeling a lump under the biopsy site for up to a week. When we take a tissue sample containing the calcifications out of the breast at a particular site, the body sends serum and blood to that area to help it heal.
• Infection is extremely rare, but if you have any redness at the site, any fevers or chills, we ask that you call us or return to The Women's Imaging Center for evaluation. Direct contact sensitivity from the tape on the skin can be common in some people. A tape sensitivity is associated with a local area that perfectly fits the tape's line. So if the tape is itchy or burning, remove it and wear a tight sports bra instead. Call your referring clinician or us if you have any concerns.

The results of your MRI-guided breast biopsy will be available in a few working days. The Women’s Imaging Center Patient Navigator and the radiologist correlate the results and coordinate any follow-up care or management indicated. Follow-up magnification images after the biopsy may be recommended even for benign biopsies. A contrast breast MRI can help with treatment planning if the biopsy proves to be cancer. We will work with your referring clinician to coordinate an individualized treatment plan with surgeons or oncologists to fit your particular needs.