Breast MRI Scans are greatly helpful but MRI Second Opinion holds the key !

 MRI Breast Prerequisites 

Though, MRI Breast it is not a routine screening procedure but if there is family history of patient with breat cancer, it is very good help to find lesions. The screening of women who are at high risk for breast cancer, usually done after gene tests. BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene 2) are genes that produce proteins that help repair damaged DNA. These genes are inherited from parents. BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) is characterized by an increased risk for female and male breast cancer, ovarian cancer (including fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers), and to a lesser extent other cancers such as prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and melanoma . Good candidate for such test is people with family history from age 25. Gene test is done with the blood samples collected from the patient. Depending on the score, periodic screening for the early diagnosis of breast lesions is recommended it can also involve  manual exams by a surgeon and imaging test.
If the MRI scanning is recommended by gynecologist or oncologists, patient has to get ready for the scanning day. Book an appointment and stay cool as this is just 30-40 minute test. The MRI Imaging procedure requires contrast to be injected.  As the contrast is injected in the body. Ideally patient should not eat food 4 hours prior to the procedure. The gravity can't help move food and acid down the esophagus and through your digestive tract. One may often experience vomiting sensations during MRI procedure which is uncomfortable feeling. Before contrast dye, the  administering radiologist may like to see patient's Kidney Function Test results.

 MRI Breast Sequences

The MRI coil is wrapped around the breast. The magnets in the MRI machine keeps On/OFF to detect the varied signals of the object which can be done in two session: Session 1:  Breast MRI imaging before contrast and
Session 2: After the contrast injected in Breast.
There are two sequences also:  T1-only images typically have a shorter pulse sequence in contrast to T2-FLAIR images, which have a longer pulse sequence and together with suppression of the signal from the CSF and higher T2 weighting, lead to an increased sensitivity to pathology and a differentiation from the dura layer.

After the MRI scan, patient is asked to drink a lot water to drain off the contrast dye injected. Generally, MRI Breast is followed by ultrasound iif breast MRI demonstrates an area of enhancement which is occult to mammography

 MRI Breast Second opinion

An MRI is more expensive than a mammogram or an ultrasound; so  its financially not easy to do it regularly. One of the Managers at Lotus Diagnostic centers in Alibagh who run the Open MRI facility for claustrophobic patients when contacted he said," In the USA , MRI Breast costs over $1000 whereas in India it may cost INR 12,000 to INR 25,000 depending on the facility". He advises, "Even if it is done at better diagnostic place, more important is to have good reading of Breast images from Senior Radiologists owing to complicated structure. But also because the lessons are to be found rightly before removal surgery". A due care should be taken to get proper radiologist report. The best way is to get the reports verified as Breast MRI Specialist rarely available. One can try online platform to get second opinion on MRI Breast from Experts Panel based in different geographies especially available on on www.teleradiologyhub.com/-second opinion