Breast MRI (Self-Referral)

The self-referral breast MRI at MRI Centrum provides contrast-enhanced imaging of the breast tissue without requiring a referral from a Dutch GP. The scan uses intravenous gadolinium contrast agent, which highlights areas of increased blood supply — a hallmark of actively growing tumours — enabling detection of lesions that may be invisible on standard mammography or ultrasound.

Breast MRI is recognised as the most sensitive screening modality for breast cancer, with sensitivity exceeding 90% compared to approximately 75% for mammography in average-density breasts. The advantage is most pronounced in women with dense breast tissue, where mammographic sensitivity drops significantly because dense tissue appears white on mammograms and can mask underlying lesions.

The self-referral programme is designed for women who want breast screening on their own initiative — whether due to family history, anxiety about a palpable finding, or as part of a broader preventive health assessment during travel. The scan takes approximately 30 minutes, and a specialist breast radiologist reviews the images and produces a detailed report within one week. The flat fee of EUR 295 includes contrast agent, the scan, and the radiologist…