MRI contrasting agent is less likely to produce an allergic reaction that may occur when iodine-based substances are used for x-rays and CT scans
MRI gives extremely clear, detailed images of soft-tissue structures that other imaging techniques cannot achieve
MRI can easily create hundreds of images from almost any direction and in any orientation
Unlike techniques that examine small parts of the body (i.e. ultrasound or mammography) MRI exams can cover large portions of the body
MRI can determine if a cancer has spread, and help determine the best treatment
Disadvantages of MRI:
MRI is expensive ($1000-$1500)
MRI will not be able to find all cancers (i.e. breast cancers indicated by microcalcifications)
MRI cannot always distinguish between malignant tumors or benign disease (such as breast fibroadenomas), which could lead to a false positive results
MRI is not painful, but the patient must remain still in an enclosed machine, which may be a problem for claustrophobic patients
An undetected metal implant in a patient’s body may be affected by the strong magnet of the MRI unit
There is a small chance that a patient could develop an allergic reaction to the contrasting agent, or that a skin infection could develop at the site of injection
If a patient chooses to be sedated for the scanning, there is a slight risk associated with using the sedation medication
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