change on ribs show on MRI

ravdeb

I did radiation in 2006. Since then I've had two breast MRI's and have had chest x-rays.

My last breast MRI (a follow up for a negative biopsy) showed a part of my rib under my affected side light up.

I was told to have an x-ray of my ribs. I did that today. The results are a "thickening" on the 5th and 6th rib.

 Is this radiation damage? I did not have a fracture to my knowlege though my onc said it could have happened unnoticed. I see an ortho onc on Tues.

Any thoughts?

Leah_S

Hi Ravdeb, sorry to hear you have to deal with this now. The gift that keeps on giving.

I still have soreness/tenderness in my ribs where I had rads. I finished Aug 09. I don't have anything show up on scans on the ribs, but a CT/PET showed stuff in my lungs that were consistent with post-radiation changes.

All the best.

Leah

ravdeb

thanks Leah...

This is the first time anything has shown up. This is my second breast MRI since diagnosis and nothing showed up. I've had chest x-rays and nothing has shown up in the past. First time.

I see the orthoped/onc today. However, though I'm a nervous wreck, I'm thinking that if it were mets, it would show something other than thickening. Thickening should team with healing of a fracture, doncha think? Onc said it was possible I had a small fracture that went unnoticed due to rads and this is the healing part of it.

 Hope onc is right!