breast mri

Carly68

breast mri

Carly68

why would they do a breast MRI?

leaf

Breast MRIs can pick up things that other imaging techniques can't (like mammos, ultrasounds.) They aren't 100% (nothing is). As far as I know, its probably the most sensitive we have of the imaging techniques . MRIs have a lot of false positives, which means that you can have your MRI light up like a Christmas tree and you think you must have cancer all over, but, no, it can be something as simple as inflammation. In other words, MRIs can show a lot of things that are NOT cancer.



These are the 2007 ACS guidelines for MRIs for *screening*, not diagnosis. http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/full/57/2/75



I think it is common now for women to have an MRI after bc diagnosis to make sure there aren't any other spots to worry about, including in the 'other' breast. I'm not sure if its standard or not though. Probably others who have done this can correct me/give more details.

rubytuesday

I had a breast MRI after an inconclusive mammogram and ultrasound.  The Dr. who did my US (and YES, it was a Dr.) was talking biopsy and when I dug my heals in (after being called back for another 4 views on the mammogram and then railroaded into an US), because I had enough, then she suggested MRI which gave me an all clear and avoided the dreaded biopsy word!  I also had a MRI before my unilateral mast just to make sure that my healthy breast was indeed healthy.   I can hardly wait until this year!!!  Best wishes

AnnNYC

Leaf, you're right about both things in your last paragraph -- it is highly recommended that women get an MRI after a dx of BC, including MRI of the "other" breast (strong recommendation was issued almost exactly a year ago) -- but it is not yet "standard" because of the cost and because MRI facilities and skilled technicians/readers aren't available everywhere -- and what's really not available everywhere is the capacity to do MRI-guided biopsy -- which you may need if an MRI sees a spot that can't be found on mammo or ultrasound, even when you know where to look based on MRI.

larousse

As Leaf described, beware of false positive, I was warned about it, but it still brought extra concerned in my case.



I had an MRI after biopsy and before lumpectomy to make sure there wasn't anything else in either breast. The problem was that it showed some suspicious lesions (large according to the docs) and had to have a larger excesion as a result. It turned out that the suspecious lesion was begnin, fibrocystic stuff.



It appears that it is very common to get false positive with an MRI.

Blinx

My surgeon recommended an MRI after the sterotactic biopsy confirmed DCIS in one breast, especially since I have extremely dense breasts.

The MRI showed suspicious areas in both breasts. That lead to 2 MRI-guided biopsies. One was benign, and the other showed ADH in the already affectd breast. LOTS of angst in-between all of these tests, especially after the first MRI, when the surgeon said I might have to have a bi-lat mastectomy.

I'm not looking forward to yearly MRIs, due to the false positives, but until something better comes along, I guess I'm stuck.

otter

I had a breast MRI of both breasts after a US-guided core biopsy of a palpable lump revealed IDC.  The MRI was to see whether there was any other suspicious tissue in either breast.  Since my breast tissue is dense (digital mammo done 30 min. before the core biopsy was BIRADS-2; even the known lump was not detected), my onco "team" ordered the MRI.

My insurance company (with a very good, very comprehensive policy) apparently dragged their feet for a couple of days.  They eventually agreed to cover the MRI, though, based on the hx of dense breast tissue and known IDC.

The MRI showed there were no other suspicious lesions in either breast, besides the one that had already been biopsied.  The known tumor "lit up" in the MRI, because of its increased blood supply.  It even appeared to be spiculated--something that wasn't seen with the digital mammo or the US.  The MRI did overestimate the size of the tumor, though.  The US said it was 1.6 cm; the MRI said it was 2.0 cm; it turned out to be 1.8 cm once it was removed.

Breast (contrast) MRI's are good.  Too bad they make me so nauseous.

otter 

PSK07

I had an MRI post biopsy, pre-surgery. It did pick up something, so it was followed-up with an ultrasound and then an ultrasound-guided biopsy. It turned out to be b9.

One way to reduce false-positives is to have the MRI around 7-10 days after the start of your period.  One day they'll figure out how to eliminate the false positives, but til then I'm just happy they have another way to check out younger, denser breasts.

My surgeon recommended that my sisters have MRIs and also recommends that I have mammos alternating with MRIs every 6 months for the next three years.

twink

The bilateral breast MRI eliminated suspicions about the right breast but confirmed suspicions about the left breast.  The earlier needle biopsy results came back negative but the BS didn't buy it (turns out the lab thought the must've tested the right breast tissue twice -- cancer was in left breast).  In any case, the MRI confirmed the suspicious mass in the left breast which was validated with an incisional biopsy.  The mammos weren't effective for me (including the one two months before I found my lump).