False positive or negative MRI?

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Mania
Mania Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I'm new to this website. I was diagnosed with DCIS two and half years ago. I had lumpectomy and Mammosite radiation and been on tamaxefin since. My first DCIS was only found by MRI and MRI-guided biopsy. So, I insisted on having MRI every year. My second MRI after my surgery was two weeks ago and they found a spot 4mm in size. They said if they can find it by ultrasound, they will do ultrasound-guided biopsy which is easier than MRI-guided biopsy. So, they saw the suspecious region with ultrasound and did the biopsy. The results were negative (fibrosis due to scar tissue). My husband is so happy, but I'm only 50% relieved. What if they did not take samples from that 4mm spot? Can they accurately match the lesion seen in MRI to the same spot in ultrasound? I'll see my Doc Friday and insist for MRI-biopsy. I don't want to miss the recurrance because of wishfull thinking and denial on my part. I just wanted to know if this happened to anyone before. Is it possible that the biopsy results are real or should I still be concerned? My first DCIS was 7 mm in size and still was not shown on ultrasound. So how this 4mm spot is shown on ultrasound? I also read that the scar tissue does not enhance on MRI after 18 months postsurgery and radiation. Mine is almost 29 months, why the scar tissue is enhanced now? I keep thinking about the worst case that can happen and trying to make myself ready. I will appreciate your comments.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2010

    There is a slight risk that they will not actually get enough of the correct tissue when they do the needle biopsies. Did she do a core biopsy? How many samples did she do? They do more than one. I recently had a core biopsy. With very dense tissues, she didn't see anything in the routine US but sent me for an MRI. There she saw two spots that were each about half a cm. I don't have my results yet but when she did the ultra sound guided biopsy (and I was wondering how the heck she would do this) she had my MRI on the screen with a tech at the MRI screen and another tech helping her locate the spot on the US. She took several samples ( I didn't count..just wanted to get out of there!).

    So, although it seems like they may not have found it, they probably did. At any rate, you will have another MRI at your next routine check up and if it's still there and has grown, they will biopsy it again, I'm guessing. Usually this stuff grows slowly..usually...

     Or..insist they do it again. I have seen that some women have it done again to be sure. It's about peace of mind. Important. Remind her of that if you feel you need to have it done again via MRI.

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  • Mania
    Mania Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2010

    Hi ravdeb, Thank you so much for your comments. I know for sure that she took several samples, I think one needle insertion and taking several samples with vaccum. She told me she extracted almost 50% of the tissue in that suspecious lesion. But, now I'm thinking even if she took samples from the correct area, what if the pathologist missed the cancer cells. Can this happen when you have large number of abnormal cells because of a scar tissue and only a few cancerous cells? I know I'm paranoid but I'm sure you understand. This is our life and we have to be 100% sure. I'll wait to see what my Dr. says but I can not just sit and wait for the next round of MRI which is a year from now, because I read half of the time the DCIS recurrance is invasive. I can not take that chance. Thank you again and wish BC never comes back in anyone's body.

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  • TomsMom
    TomsMom Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2010

    Scar tissue can be confused for a new lesion. It is common. That may be why she was able to see it under ultrasound. She would not have biopsied it if she didn't think it was matching what she saw in MRI.

    Vacuum biopsy is very accurate in getting the tissue you are after, so I you're good there.

    Also, I don't think the pathologist missed anything. They are VERY thorough.

    It sounds to me that you have a good doctor who is being cautious. But if I were you I would try not to worry. Worst case, ask for a new MRI in 6 months instead of a year.

    Even if you got an MRI now the spot would mostly be gone since she biopsied it.

    Someone once told me that the opposite of fear is faith. Try to put the fear aside, have faith in your doctor, and keep asking good questions!

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  • Mania
    Mania Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2010

    Thank you for your comforting words. It means so much to me that you guys read and care enough to leave a comment. I met with my Dr. today. When I told him about my doubts, he suggested that he can do another lumectopmy and pathology afterward, but I don't want to end up with more deformation and another scar if it is nothing. So, we agreed on another MRI three months form now and if it shows up again may be MRI-guided biopsy. I also talked to my radiologist and she  tried to convince me the cancer is not back.But they can not say 100% that they got the cells from the right spot.  I hope everyone is right and I'm just paranoid. Thank you again and forgive my babbling on and on about a 4mm spot. I have faith but I also get so scared when I read everyone's story about their cancer.

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