What does cancer look like on an MRI?

On an MRI, cancer often appears as an area of abnormal tissue that differs in signal intensity from surrounding healthy tissues. Tumors may show up as masses that are either iso-intense, hypo-intense, or hyper-intense depending on the type of cancer and the MRI sequence used. Additionally, features such as irregular margins, edema, and enhancement after contrast administration can indicate malignancy. The specific appearance can vary widely based on the tumor's location, type, and stage.