Purpose: To determine the difference in anxiety reactions in patients undergoing standard (non-breast) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRM) and to evaluate the influence of patient information before the breast imaging examination on the rate of premature termination of the procedure.
Materials and methods: Over 2 years, 5837 non-breast and 336 breast magnetic resonance examinations were performed at our institution. One group of breast MRM patients (n = 144) received detailed information and a second group (n = 189) received only routine information before MRI. The rates of premature termination were recorded for all groups.
Results: In 0.5% (27/5837) of patients undergoing standard MRI examinations the study had to be stopped prematurely. Of the breast MRM patients, those who had received only routine information had a significantly higher rate of premature termination when compared to the better-informed patients and those undergoing standard MRI (5.5%, 10/189, P= 0.01). A significantly lower rate of premature termination occurred in the better-informed breast group (0%, 0/144).
Conclusion: MRM is associated with an increase in patient anxiety and higher rates of incomplete examination than other MR procedures. We recommend careful patient preparation including detailed verbal information before MRM and support during the procedure to obtain optimal patient compliance.