Accuracy of MRI

Options
dragonflymary
dragonflymary Member Posts: 356
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Okay, this is probably nothing to be concerned about but I have a lump over an implant.  Dr. ordered MRI which came back benign.  PS, however, still wants to do biopsy.  The thing is, he had a very concerned look on his face when he felt the lump!!  Can an MRI have a false negative?  He said you can't tell unless you biopsy it.  Has anyone had an MRI that was read as "benign" but turned out to be positive?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited March 2011

    I haven't but have had a few MRI's to check for recurrence.  I was told not to be alarmed if the MRI came back as suspicious because the MRI is so sensitive it has many false positives.

    Wishing the best for you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    I've experienced false positives with MRI before my BMX. There were 4 suspicous areas in my other breast. Ended up 1 small spot of precancer (LCIS) and the other 3 must of been cysts or something. No false negatives though.

    Now that you have been diagnosed they will always be extra cautious. Better to do the biopsy and have piece of mind. Don't read into the doctors expressions. Surgeons usually do look concerned when dealing with anything medical and some of them even look concerned when the say hello. Tongue out

    Hope it stays benign.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lrr4993
    lrr4993 Member Posts: 937
    edited March 2011

    I am not sure, but I don't think you can get false negatives from MRI's because they do not diagnose benign or not. They just look for suspicious areas and a biopsy is required to make the benign determination.  I had an MRI after my diagnosis and it showed only one other area of concern that, upon ultrasound follow-up appeared to be nothing.  It turned out to be DCIS.  So, best to have the biopsy.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dragonflymary
    dragonflymary Member Posts: 356
    edited March 2011

    lago/irr--thanks for input.  It's true, Drs. are probably programmed to look very concerned when they walk into the room...also he wasn't feeling well today so he was probably more concerned-looking than usual!  I will wait for biopsy but am learning the hard lesson of living one day at a time.  This disease makes you learn that, even if you don't want to.  I have to keep preaching to myself that it does no good to keep obsessing (she said, obssessively!!!)  What on earth does God want me to learn here?  BLEAH.  Now I have to go for a dumb ultrasound on my abdomen due to left-sided pain.  Probably something I ate?  Oh well, spring is around the corner and when the hot weather hits Oregon it's like a paradise.  Going to bed, Dragon

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories