I am concerned about my health. Can I request for a medical imaging (including MRI) scan at a healthcare facility in Singapore?

According to the MOH, for national health screening initiatives, a referral from a medical practitioner is not required. This is because healthcare facilities that wish to provide health screening for national programmes are first required by Health Promotion Board to have systems in place to ensure that patients receive timely follow-ups on the screening results from the appropriate medical practitioner(s). For any other health screening, a referral from a medical practitioner is required.

You should confirm with the healthcare provider if a referral is required for your desired scan.

Why is medical imaging including MRI scan important for health screening or early detection of diseases?

Many serious conditions are “silent” and do not present any symptoms in the early stages. Such diseases may require a variety of tests to be detected and diagnosed. Medical imaging is a vital component of the set of medical examinations needed.

Some of the more affordable health screening packages allows me a choice of 1 or 2 medical scans. Which one should I choose.

Different medical imaging scans help to detect different medical conditions. Generally, you can consider selecting those for conditions that you are most at risk for (e.g. family history of the condition or other risk factors).

You should consult the doctor to ascertain the choice that is most suitable for you.

Is radiation exposure from medical imaging scans harmful?

Certain examinations such as X-ray, CT scan, mammography, bone mineral densitometry, and PET scan will expose the patient to low doses of radiation. With current technology, radiation risk from medical imaging is sufficiently low to not cause harm.

Female patients who are pregnant, or for whom if pregnancy is a possibility, should inform the attending doctor, radiographer or nurse.

What is a breast MRI and how it is different from a mammogram?

A mammogram uses x-rays and is currently the best screening tool for breast cancer detection.

A breast MRI is also used to find breast cancer, or to rule out breast cancer when there are other problems in the breast.

A breast MRI may be carried out if a breast biopsy shows cancer. A breast MRI may also be used to show the spread of the cancer.

Breast MRI may be used with mammography as a screening tool for detecting breast cancer in some people., including those with higher risk of breast cancer (e.g. family history of breast cancer).