What are the indications for breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?
General indications for breast MRI include:
- • Establish the extent of disease in the setting of a newly diagnosed breast cancer.
- • Further evaluate an imaging finding that is incompletely characterized by diagnostic mammography and/or breast ultrasonography (US).
- • Evaluate for residual disease in the setting of positive margins after lumpectomy or other operative procedure.
- • Evaluate a patient with metastatic adenocarcinoma to the axilla of unknown primary.
- • Evaluate for silicone breast implant rupture.
- • Presence of a hereditary gene or syndrome known to predispose to breast cancer (BRCA1/2 carrier, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome) or a first-degree relative affected by one of these.
- • An estimated lifetime risk of breast cancer greater than 20% to 25%.
- • History of prior thoracic radiation therapy between the ages of 10 and 30.
- • Monitor the response of a known breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
