Patients at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center now have access to the most advanced technology in breast imaging with the addition of the Aurora® 1.5T Dedicated Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System. Englewood Hospital is the only hospital in New Jersey to offer the Aurora System, which is the only FDA-approved, dedicated breast MRI system.

"Patients at the Medical Center have had access to breast imaging services for the past few years with a whole body MRI unit," said Dr. Mindy Goldfischer, chief of Breast Imaging and associate director of the Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center at Englewood Hospital. "Aurora’s unique system of magnetic gradients and coils was designed to only image breast tissue. The exclusive design of this system tailors the examination to each woman’s specific breast composition. This means that the images are of the highest quality."

The Aurora System allows MRI-guided biopsies to be performed accurately and quickly, accommodating multiple targets in the same breast in a single procedure.

It was specifically designed for three-dimensional bilateral breast imaging using a 1.5 Tesla magnet, a high-field magnet designed only to perform breast imaging. The detailed images are produced using a contrast material made for viewing in a magnetic field that highlights blood vessels within the breast. This is the most sensitive imaging means of detecting breast cancer.

The new system is also designed to fit the contours of a woman’s body.

Patients lie face down with both breasts suspended away from the chest without compression. The table moves into the open-ended cylinder feet first reducing the feeling of claustrophobia.

The unique sensitivity of Breast MRI is important in evaluating women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer in order to determine the extent of disease and to plan surgical treatment. It is also used to follow breast cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy before or instead of surgery and to evaluate women who have had breast conservation therapy, which may make their mammograms difficult to interpret. Women who fall into a high-risk category may benefit from screening with Breast MRI, especially if their breast tissue is dense or nodular. Breast MRI will also improve the imaging evaluation of women with implants that obscure some of their breast tissue.

"We provide the best available imaging technology to our patients," said Dr. Mark L. Shapiro, chief of radiology. "Patients appreciate that Englewood Hospital offers the highest quality imaging services with quick and accurate results. The new MRI System has certainly improved patient care."

To schedule an appointment or to learn more about the Aurora Breast MRI System, call (201) 894-3202.