The London Clinic has a state of the art imaging department providing our patients and referring doctors with a comprehensive range of investigations to cater for our patients’ individual needs.
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What is it for?
Generate diagnostic images of the breast
On this page
Treatment overview
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a scanning technique that can be used to generate diagnostic images of the breast.
Although not used for routine breast screening, an MRI scan can reveal breast tumours that are too small to detect through physical examinations or are difficult to see on traditional mammograms.
An MRI scan does not take the place of a mammogram, but it can be performed as an extra study of your breast.
A breast MRI is a scan specifically focused on the breasts, always scanning both breast at once following a contrast injection to produce the most optimal pictures.
FAQs
Not everyone is suitable for an MRI scan and it is important that you let us know if you have the following risk factors:
- Cardiac pacemaker
- Heart valves
- Cochlear implant
- Stapedectomy
- Surgery involving metal implants in the last six weeks
- Possible or confirmed pregnancy
- Injuries involving metallic fragments in the eyes
- Gunshot or shrapnel injuries
The scan will be reported by a specialist consultant radiologist and the results will be forwarded to the referring clinician within 24 hours.
An MRI scan uses a magnetic field and radio waves to generate images of the interior of your breast.It does not use X-rays, so there is no risk of being exposed to radiation when you have an MRI scan. The images produced are virtual ‘slices’ through the breast, taken at every possible angle.These are then put together by a computer to build up an accurate 3-dimensional image of the breast tissue.MRI scanning is very sensitive and can detect tiny breast tumours, much smaller than those that show up on a mammogram.It is also able to detect breast cancer in the denser breasts of younger women.
Before you lie down, a small plastic cannula will be inserted into your arm for the IV contrast injection however, the actual injection is not administered until close to the end of the scan.You will be asked to lie face down on a table, placing your breasts into position onto a specific breast cradle. The table will move through the cylinder to the required position.The scan will take approximately 30 minutes.
- An MRI scan is more sensitive to changes in the breast, so can detect breast tumours that are very small.
- It is a more reliable screen for breast cancer in women who have breast implants or scar tissue as these can confuse the analysis of a mammogram.
- Early stage breast cancer can be identified in younger women who have dense breast tissue that makes mammography difficult.
- MRI scanning can reveal if there are any other breast tumours in the breast of a woman who is due to have surgery to remove an obvious lump .
- The technique is sensitive enough to tell the difference between scar tissue and recurrent breast tumours in women already treated for breast cancer.
- MRI scanning can be used to find out if a breast cancer found by mammography or ultrasound has spread beyond the breast.
- MRI scanning can be used to monitor the size of breast tumours in women being treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This can show how well the current treatment is working.
Multiplanar images of the breasts will be acquired without the use of ionising radiation that will assist the clinician in diagnosing and planning treatment. MRI can successfully image dense breasts common in younger women, as well as breast implants, both of which are difficult to image using traditional mammography.
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Why choose The London Clinic?
Trusted for over 90 years, The London Clinic is an independent charitable hospital that reinvests into care, research, and support for those who can’t easily access private treatment.
The UK’s largest independent hospital
More patients choose The London Clinic than any other.
Top-rated by real patients
4.86/5 from over 1,600 reviews on Doctify and over 4.5 on Google.
Full intensive care on-site
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
Investing in clinical excellence
Backed by Northwestern, we equip our teams with cutting-edge medical equipment.
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.