Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
MRI
Like its without-contrast counterpart, this entry's name says mammography but describes an MRI - both breasts, imaged with a gadolinium contrast injection, not an X-ray mammogram. Contrast is what breast MRI depends on for finding cancer, since it's injected during the scan and taken up differently by tumor tissue than by normal breast tissue. Beyond high-risk screening, this version is commonly used once cancer is already known, to check how far it extends before surgery, since contrast-enhanced MRI can pick up areas of disease that mammography or ultrasound alone might miss. It's also used to clarify a mammography finding that's hard to characterize, particularly in dense breast tissue. No radiation is involved, since this is MRI, not an X-ray exam.
This scan images both breasts after a gadolinium injection, the same contrast-enhanced approach used in any breast MRI. It's often used to map the extent of a known cancer before surgery, or to clarify an uncertain mammography finding, especially in dense breast tissue.
This entry's name includes the word mammography, but it's an MRI exam, not an X-ray mammogram - the same naming overlap as its non-contrast counterpart. It images both breasts with a gadolinium contrast injection, the standard approach for cancer-related breast MRI.
Once breast cancer has already been diagnosed, this scan is often used to map how far it extends before surgery is planned. Contrast-enhanced MRI can pick up additional areas of disease that mammography or ultrasound alone sometimes miss, which can change how surgery is approached.
X-ray mammography is less reliable in dense breast tissue, since dense tissue and tumors can both appear white on a mammogram. Contrast-enhanced MRI isn't limited by breast density in the same way, which is part of why it's sometimes added when mammography results in dense breasts are hard to interpret.
- The full extent of a known breast cancer before surgery - Additional areas of disease not visible on mammography - Clarification of an uncertain mammography finding
Ask your doctor whether your situation calls for the standard mammogram, the plain version of this scan, or this contrast-enhanced one.
No, despite the name, this is a contrast-enhanced MRI of both breasts, not an X-ray mammogram. Confirm with your doctor or the centre which test was actually intended.
It's often used to map how far a known cancer extends before surgery is planned, since contrast-enhanced MRI can pick up areas of disease that mammography or ultrasound alone might miss.
Less than it affects mammography. Contrast-enhanced MRI isn't limited by breast density the way X-ray mammography is, which is part of why it's sometimes used when dense tissue makes mammogram results hard to interpret.
No. It's MRI, using magnets, radio waves, and a contrast injection, not X-rays.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
It's generally considered safe with a low rate of reaction. Mention any kidney problems or past contrast reactions to your doctor beforehand.
No, it's not a replacement for mammography. It's typically used alongside it, either for high-risk screening or after a cancer diagnosis.
The contrast injection is the key difference - it's what allows the scan to reliably show cancerous tissue. The non-contrast version is mainly used for other purposes, like checking breast implants.