Breast MRI Spectroscopy, Department of Defense (DOD)

The purpose of this new imaging method is to provide physicians with additional information not available with standard imaging methods. This includes information about the make up of different breast diseases. Using spectroscopy data, it may be possible to tell the difference between benign conditions of the breast from malignant tumors and provide more accurate information than can be obtained with regular MRI. Along with the MRI a new method of evaluating the images or pictures will be used. This new method is called spectroscopy and is used routinely on other parts of the body such as the prostate and brain. Pictures produced with this sequence look different than the regular MRI pictures. Performing spectroscopy on a 1.5T magnet adds another imaging sequence (another scan) to the routine MRI protocol, thus increasing exam time (extra 10-15 minutes). This study will enroll patients who are scheduled for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination ordered by their primary physician.