ON THE DAY OF YOUR MRI GUIDED BREAST BIOPSY, DO NOT FORGET TO BRING WITH YOU

  • Any recent exam that is relevant to the reason your scan is performed
  • Previous scans of the same part of the body
  • Medical note from your physician, stating the reason for your scan
  • The exam requisition
  • A copy of the creatinine blood test result, if required and the test has been done at an outside facility
  • The contrast media your doctor has prescribed you
  • Any official document for identification purposes (i.e. passport, ID) and your SSN

HOW THE SCAN IS PERFORMED

When you arrive at the hospital, you'll be asked to fill in a questionnaire about your health and medical history. This helps us to ensure you can have the scan safely. As the MRI scanner produces strong magnetic fields, it's important to remove any metal objects from your body (i.e. jewellery, watch, dentures,hearing aids). You will then lay on a mobile table which moves inside a ring-shaped device. Your breasth will be thoroughly scanned to locate the exact posistion where biopsy will take place. Once the radiologist  finds the area to biopsy, they’ll guide a thin needle into your breast.

HOW TO PREPARE

Please read the information provided in our informed consent to learn about your biopsy, and contact us at 2104809596, 08:00-16:00 for further instructions/ information. You should share with us your recent Breast MRI, well in advance.   

The following blood tests are required:

  • Full blood count (up to 24 hours before biopsy)
  • Prothrombine Time (PT, INR) (up to 24 hours before biopsy)
  • Creatinine (within 30 days prior to biopsy)

You may have the blood tests on the day of your scan in our premises. Please allow 1 hour before your examination to get the results.

  • Sedation

    The MRI guided breast biopsy can be conducted under local anesthesia. Nevertheless, to minimize discomfort and help you relax during the procedure (at least 90min), sedation is recommended.  Please contact us at 210 480 9596/ 7082   08:00-16:00, if you need to get sedated during your scan.

  • Claustrophobia
    If you are claustrophobic, please have your physician prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to take the day of the study. Please contact us at 210 4807082 if you need to get sedated during your scan.

  • Allergies

    If you have a history of serious allergy on MRI contrast medium, please contact us at 2104807082, 08:00-16:00. Your ordering physician is responsible for prescribing the pre-medications for you. The following pre-medications are usually recommended:

    • 12 hours prior to your scan, 2 pills Medrol 16mg
    • 2 hours before your scan, 2 pills Medrol 16mg
    • 1 hour before your scan 1 pill Zirtek 5mg
  • Implantable Heart Devices

    If you bear an implantable electronic heart device like pacemaker or defibrillators, you may still have an MRI, provided your device is MRI conditional. However, your device should be checked and adjusted before entering the magnetic field. Please call us at 2104809171, 08:00-16:00, on weekdays, to book your appointment.

WHEN YOU SHOULD COME

Please arrive 30’ before your appointment, to complete registration.

AFTER YOUR SCAN

After the exam, you will likely be told to drink lots of fluids to help your kidneys remove the contrast material from your body and be given with detailed care instructions to follow.

Your implantable pacemaker or defibrillator should be reset; in case you bear such a device.

YOUR RESULTS

Your result will be available in 15 to 20 days after your exam date. Our staff will contact you as soon as it is available.