Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Of The Breast: How To Prepare

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How To Prepare

Tell your doctor and the MRI technologist if you:

• Have a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), artificial limb, any metal parts in your body, tattooed eyeliner or metallic-based tattoos, or any other implanted medical device, such as a medication infusion pump. Also, tell your doctor if you have worked around metal or if you have recently had surgery on a blood vessel. In some cases you may not be able to have the MRI test.
• Are or might be pregnant.
• Become very nervous in confined spaces. You need to lie very still inside the MRI scanner, so you may need to have the test done with an open MRI machine that is not as confining as standard MRI machines, or you may need medicine to help you relax.
• Have allergies, especially to any medicines.
• Have asthma.
• Have other health problems, such as kidney problems or sickle cell anemia. Contrast material cannot be used with some health problems.

Arrange to have someone take you home after the test in case you are given a medicine (sedative) to help you relax.

You may need to sign a consent form that says you understand the risks of an MRI and agree to have the test done. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .

Last updated:	April 03, 2008
Author:	Bets Davis, MFA
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology
Editors:	Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer