MRI

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shelloz1
shelloz1 Member Posts: 405
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hi,

I was wondering, are there different types of MRI?  I am feeling a lump in my breast (that doesn't show up on the US), going to ask the surgeon for an MRI, but I also feel something on my rib, so can the MRI do the whole body, or are there specific ones for each area?

Shelley

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited May 2009

    If the rib area you are concerned about is in front (as opposed to wrapped around the side) and the ribs are up close to the breast the MRI might pick up something.. but MRI have the strongest yield in soft tissue.. if there were an area of concern did show up on the ribs themselves or if your doc is concerned about the ribs then another type of scan would probably be assigned.  A CT scan or a Bone scan would be better for the ribs.. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't have the breast MRI too...  Good luck and I hope everything is clean!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2009

    shell--a breast MRI uses a very specific technique to image the breasts by using a dedicated breast coil. It is different than an MRI for a different part of your body, say your shoulder (I've had both). I'm not sure how much of your ribs get imaged during the breast MRI--check with the doctor.

    Anne

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  • shelloz1
    shelloz1 Member Posts: 405
    edited May 2009

    Hi Deirdre1 and Awb,

    Thanks for responding, I appreciate it.  Will the MRI be able to pick up anything if it's in the underarm area?

    Shelley

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited May 2009

    Sometimes it can if it is a soft tissue area - It might have a shot at ribs in that area, but again MRI's aren't really designed to pick up heavy structures like bone..

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  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited May 2009

    I'm surprised to learn that MRIs  work best on soft tissue. I will be having an MRI in 2 weeks and am hoping that it will pick up anything on the ribs.  I am tender in the rib area and occasionally feel a tiny cyst.  I'm hoping the soreness is due to exercising/paddling and not something more.

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  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited May 2009

    Will an MRI show if scar tissue has grown over an implant?

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited May 2009

    Well, scar tissue is suppose to grow over the implants, it just isn't suppose to "tighten"..  Whenever we place a foreign body into our body, whether a breast implant or a new knee scar tissue forms around it - it is the body's way of protecting us.  So the problem is really if we get an infection (and I recently learned if you have lung treatment and probably other things) the scar tissue can start to contract upon the implant and that can make it sore and can sort of reposition it or distort it (upwards).. 

    An MRI can see the implant and check it for leaks or tears but the check of the implant itself is secondary to check the muscle and small remaining breast tissue for cancer.  So if you are going to have an MRI and you want them to check out the implant too you should mention it to you doc and they can request approval for the MRI to check the muscle as well as the implant itstelf..  if a cyst is there the MRI can pick it up so make sure when you get with the MRI tech you point to the area that you can "feel" the tiny cyst and they will alert the pathologist to look at that area... But if for any reason the problem is in the rib bone itself the MRI MIGHT be able to see something but the other scans can pick up bone issues much better..  (CT and/or Bone Scan PET) And good luck I hope it alieves your concerns!!!

    Edit:  Oh sorry not "pathologist" but "radiologist"..  ... the area that you can "feel" the tiny cyst and they will alert the radiologist to look at that area..

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  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited May 2009

    Thanks for your input.

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  • shelloz1
    shelloz1 Member Posts: 405
    edited June 2009

    Yesterday I finally received the approval for my MRI, hurray, they finally took me seriously.  I have had MRI's before, but not this specific one, so I'm looking for details on what it's all about and what to expect.  I am claustraphobic, I am asking for them to put me out during the proceedure.  How long does it take?  Will I get the results right away?  Any information appreciated.

    Shelley

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  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited June 2009

    Just had a breast mri with contrast dye last week.  It is an easy procedure. Claustrphobia wasn't a problem as you lay face down. There is a head rest with a mirror under it that lets you see the techs or they put a pillow over the head rest to make it a little more comfortable. You lay your head to the side and can see outside the tube.  Actually, I don't think your head actualy goes into the scanner. They give your headphones and offer a selection of music. You place your arms forward on each side of your head and lay still. The tech would tell me this set of pictures is going to take 6 mins., the next set will take 10 mins and all I heard ws the music and the noise from the mri doing its thing.  The whole process was very easy.

    When I start worrying or getting stressed by a procedure I try to think of something pleasant & try to visualize the thought to take my mind off what is actually going on. For example, I love to decorate and design homes & gardens so I start thinking about a particular house or garden and dream the procedure away. 

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  • shelloz1
    shelloz1 Member Posts: 405
    edited June 2009

    Hi Mawhinney,

    Thank you for this, if my head is not in the machine, I won't have a problem.  Did you get to see the screen or what was going on?  If so, any idea how to tell what it means?

    Shelley

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited June 2009

    Every facility is different but I believe the basic procedure is the same, in that you go into the machine lying on your stomach, feet first.  So your head is near the front of the machine - meaning that you either can look out, or if you are resting your head in the head rest (those donut shaped cushions they use when you have a massage), you are looking down (and you can't actually tell whether your head is in the tube or not).  At my facility there is no screen and nothing to look at. 

    My facility doesn't give headphones or music.  The MRI is loud but it's sort of monotonous and I close my eyes and almost doze off.  My facility used to talk to patients after each set of pictures but they no longer do this - they found that women were lifting their heads (and therefore their shoulders and chest) to better hear what was being said and the movement was impacting the quality of the results.  So the last MRI I had ran about 45 minutes with no comment from the tech (or radiologist?) except to let me know when the contrast dye was being injected.  Breast MRIs usually do run about 30 - 45 minutes and you are supposed to lie perfectly still the whole time - so be sure to get yourself into a comfortable position before the MRI starts.  

    As for the results, at my facility there are no immediate results and no indication of whether everything is fine or not.  I think that's the case at most facilities although I have heard of one or two women here who did get immediate results.  That's unusual though.

    Shelley, I'm claustraphobic too and the first couple of MRIs I had, I took a Xanax beforehand.  The MRI facility actually suggested that for anyone who was concerned, so I called my family doctor, told him that I was worried about the MRI and he prescribed it for me.  I didn't bother with the Xanax before my most recent MRI.  Looking at the MRI machine, I know that there's no way that I could go in head first, lying on my back.  But with the breast MRI, going in feet first and lying on my stomach, it's no problem for me at all.  Hopefully you'll find the same. 

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited June 2009

    Shelly:  What Beesie said about each facility is right on the money!  So you can go to the facility before the test and ease your concerns by seeing the space and machine if you think that will help..

    Also, and this just yesterday happened to me, there is a "face plate" for lack of a better word and because of the recent flu outbreak my facility had taken the cloth off of it so they could disinfect it after each use sounds great doesn't it?  Well I don't have claustraphobic and have had many MRI's (both body as well as breast including a MRI guided biopsy) but yesterday I had to have them stop the machine because I felt there was "something wrong".  Now I am healthy but do have ashma (with quite a few allergies) so I assumed I was having an ashma attack until I came out of the machine and realized that there was sweat running down my cheeks after only 2 minutes!  They need to put that cloth cover on the "fact plate" so that your skin can breathe..  Good luck and I'm really glad you got an order - I feel strongly MRI's are of great help with dx mostly but also treatment!!!

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  • Kimber
    Kimber Member Posts: 384
    edited June 2009

    Shelley,

    Ask your doctor for some valium, it will help you get through.  I have had several breast MRIs and MRI guided biopsies, I always went in head first, with my arms above my head, usually in a face plate, but one time on a pillow with my head turned to the side.  If you can learn to take your mind somewhere else (it took me a while to master this), then you can get through the claustrophobia and the noise.  Always keep in mind, this must be done so you can find out what is going on.  My attitude is "I gotta do what I gotta do" to get through it so I can be diagnosed and treated.  You will be fine.  My best to you!  Let us know how you do!!

    Kimber 

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