Breast MRI
Select VHC Health in Arlington, Virginia or the Washington, DC Metro area, for your breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). You’ll benefit from our advanced technology and an experienced care team to analyze your results.
What’s a Breast MRI?
A breast MRI is a noninvasive test that creates hundreds of images of the inside of your breast. A breast MRI can show signs of a problem that a mammogram may sometimes miss, especially in women with dense breast tissue or breast implants.
Why Is Breast MRI Done?
If you have a personal or family history of breast cancer or other factors that increase your risk, your doctor may recommend annual breast MRIs and mammograms.
A breast MRI scan can help diagnose breast cancer. It can also help your doctor stage cancer (see how much it has grown and spread) so your care team can plan the most effective treatments.
What to Expect
Trust us to make your visit easy and calm. Our staff will explain each step and answer your questions before the test begins. If you feel anxious in small spaces, ask your doctor about medicine and other options that can help you relax. (Do this at least a week before your test, so you have time to fill any prescription your doctor makes.)
At your MRI appointment, you’ll receive an injection of dye. The dye shows up in the images the MRI produces and helps your radiologist analyze the results.
During the scan, you’ll lie face down on a scanning table and place your breasts in a low part of the table. The table will move into the MRI machine's opening while you remain as still as possible. Throughout the procedure, a trained technologist will monitor you and be able to hear you via a two-way intercom.
How Long Does It Take?
Your breast MRI may take up to one hour. After your MRI, you can go back to your normal day unless your doctor says otherwise.
Your Test Results
Board-certified radiologists review your results as quickly as possible. Ask your doctor when and how to expect your test results. If you're already a VHC Health patient, your results will appear in your MyVHC patient portal.
Because an MRI is sensitive, it sometimes yields false-positive results. This means the test results could suggest cancer even if you're healthy. Count on your care team to help you take follow-up steps to get the information you need.
