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URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/20012.htm
Breast MRI scan
Overview
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test. It uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. In a breast MRI scan, you lie on your stomach on a narrow table with your breasts hanging down into cushioned openings. The table slides into a large tube in which powerful magnets and radio waves create detailed pictures of your breasts and the surrounding tissue. You must lie still during the test, which can last 30 to 60 minutes or longer. A breast MRI scan provides more information on parts of the breast that may be hard to assess on an ultrasound or mammogram.
Review Date 4/10/2026
Updated by: Neil Grossman, MD, Radiologist, Wayland, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
