MRI after a benign biopsy

brooke17927

I had a biopsy last week, I had a birad 4 report for calcifications, when I got to the breast center, they said they wanted me to do the MRI first because I have dense breast tissue and then do the biopsy another day but the calcifications was why I was sent there so my husband and I pushed for the biopsy which they went ahead and did. I had 2 areas that they wanted to biopsy but when they looked at the 2nd area and said it didn't need to be biopsied, was clearly benign.

So I guess they still want me to do the MRI which is scheduled on the 21st, it looks like there is a lot of controversy with doing the MRI's and I'm not able to really find any valuable information. Should I still do this, would the biopsy not have detected something because it could be in a different part of my breast? I'm high risk as my mom had breast cancer last year so I'm not sure why I'm questioning it other than I just don't like tight, enclosed spaces.

momto3sons

I ended up having an MRI last year (twice actually, since they did an MRI guided biopsy), and I didn't mind it at all. You're face down, so I never felt claustrophobic. Good luck with whatever you decide!

ksusan

The biopsy only assesses tissue from the sampled area. Other areas, which didn't show up on your mammogram or whatever imaging you had, may show up on MRI. You can ask for a Xanax or something to keep you calm for the MRI, but especially with dense breasts, it would be a good idea.

I went into MRI with a diagnosis in one breast, and came out with a diagnosis in both breasts.

MBPooch

MRI was the only thing that detected my DCIS. Mammogram and ultrasound were both clean. It also picked up two other suspicious areas that thankfully turned out to be B9. I think you'll find a sense of relief knowing for certain.

ShinyLife

I’m in a similar boat. Radiologist recommenced breast MRI after my ultrasound guided biopsy before the patholgy report was back. He revised the recommendation to breast MRI and excisional biopsy after path came back benign. MRI didn’t really add much for me other than confirmed nodes are clear and no other masses, but hasn’t ruled neoplastic process out. Waiting for excisional biopsy on the 10th. What’s kept me sane during this drawn out wait is that the mass size hasn’t changed significantly from first imaging on 11/12 to MRI on 12/22. All in all, I’m glad I had the MRI. It was an easy test, so hopefully it goes smoothly for you as well.

brooke17927

Thanks, idk if it's good or bad for me, I don't have any masses that they're even looking at, all I had was calcifications which was cleared in the biopsy but because I have dense breast tissue, they want to do an MRI so hoping everything is in the clear.

ShinyLife

They may want to do it simply because you have a 1st degree relative with breast cancer. Even without knowing my specific radiology and pathology findings, the geneticist I saw just after my screening mammogramalso ordered a MRI because I had been called back from a screening mammogram and my paternal grandmother & her sisters had breast cancer in their 40s.

Rah2464

The only way my cancer was found was by a diagnostic MRI. My breasts were very dense and my BS ordered the test after the mammogram and ultrasound came back clear. She ordered the MRI because I told her how very tired I was and that although I couldn't feel a lump, my left breast just physically felt heavier somehow. Glad you are getting the MRI to be absolutely sure. And it is a relatively easy test.

JoTheGreek

My experience with MRI wasn't that bad and, mind you, I'm considered a highly anxious personality by both myself and my closed ones (claustrophobia, agoraphobia, name it!).  I took a Xanax 0.5 mg (the big one, that is lol) 20 minutes b4 the procedure and I felt kind of alienated and apathetic towards the procedure, not sure whether it was the Xanax or the tiredness of the past week of events that culminated in the MRI, it also helps that the breast MRI is conducted with the patient lying on their belly with their head resting on a fluffy pillow, I plunged my face into the pillow and closed my eyes and honestly didn't feel any sort of anxiety, impatience or imminent doom lol.  The whole thing took only 17 minutes altogether, 11 minutes without gadolinium and 6 minutes with the substance injected, the technician advised me that the only catch is that after injecting gadolinium the patient shouldn't move at all which I gladly did as it were only 6 minutes left, I recall that I breathed very shallowly as I really wanted to pull it off successfully and not have to repeat it.  The noises aren't that horrible, in some cases you are given even ear mufflers (not in my case...) and they definitely provide you with a panic button which is wise NOT to use after the injection cause you'll then need to repeat the whole drill (no need to have gadolinium injected in your body twice)...  The technician will advise you to drink water (if you're not in the habit, that is) for the next 24 hours after the MRI, so as to help your kidneys get rid of gadolinium gradually.  Don't overdo as too much water is as harmful as too little water for the kidneys.  Overall I feel that if I ever need to have another MRI I wouldn't worry about the procedure anymore, which is good to know as I'm not getting any younger and healthier lol  Good luck, hun

brooke17927

Thanks for all the posts, I am keeping my appt. At this point, I just want to know if it's a wide bone MRI and not super enclosed.