Mass only visible on mri

Plantbased I had a small mass that showed on 3D mammography but not on follow up ultrasound. I was actually cleared and told to come back in a year. 6 weeks later I went back to see a surgeon and indicated that I felt something was wrong. Mammo and Ultrasound repeated with the same results. My surgeon heard me and ordered an MRI which led to a guided biopsy. I was told that there is a 98% diagnostic rate for ultrasound. My case fell into that 2% range that was not diagnostic. I had very small dense breasts so clear imaging was difficult. I did have a little pain from recovery from the needle biopsy simply because my spot was closer to the chest wall and my dense tissue was hard to punch thru. So after your biopsy take it easy on yourself but the discomfort should go away pretty quickly. Fingers crossed for you that it is benign.

My MRI was ordered because I told my surgeon that my left breast just felt slightly heavier and I was adamant that something was wrong. There was nothing palpable based on my breast density. It definitely saved me because I would have an entirely different disease to manage if I didn't get it.

Hi plantbased. I am considered high-risk after a diagnosis of LCIS in my rt breast last summer, so I was okayed for yearly screening MRI's. I had my first MRI last December, which found a small enhancing mass at 9:00 in my left breast that had not been seen on previous mammograms. It was suspicious enough to earn a BIRADS 0 score, with a recommended second look targeted ultrasound, which found **nothing**. This earned a BIRADS 3 score, and a suggestion for another targeted ultrasound in six months. I had the US this summer at the same time as I had my yearly mammogram. Nothing was seen on the mammogram but a "new" small mass was seen in the 9:00 position on ultrasound, BIRADS 4. I had an US guided biopsy and it turned out to be a "feral" lymph node that was completely benign (just in an unexpected place).

It's unsettling to me how the different imaging modalities "see" different things, but I guess they all have their strengths and weaknesses. I honestly am not sure if the reason that the targeted US last Dec. did not find the enhancing "mass" seen on the MRI is because I seemed to have an inexperienced US technician. In June, a different US technician could go right to the spot and find the small mass in the expected place. Was this an interval change or just the difference in the US technicians? Ultimately it doesn't matter in my case since the biopsy results were benign.

I had 1.2cm mass in right breast that did not appear on mammogram or ultrasound but was plain as day on mri. Had mri guided biopsy-not a big deal really, just time consuming and loud. Treatment plan went from lumpectomy on left breast to remove suspicious calcifications that would’ve been done locally to BMX with immediate DIEP flap recon at NOLA. This allowed me to avoid rads, no chemo required, and I take anti-hormone therapy to eliminate estrogen in my system to help reduce risk of recurrence. Genetic testing fell in there somewhere and I was positive for a gene that increases ovarian cancer risk so I had those bad boys removed too. Feel free to ask any questions!

Hi Plantbased - sorry that you are going through this. It is never a waste of time to take care of your health and check things out. I did have a tumor that was not seen on mammo or ultra sound but was found by mri.

I had been diagnosed with Invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast and was having the MRI to check things out before making treatment decisions. The MRI found three separate suspicious areas on my right breast. I had the mri guided biopsy and two of the three areas were benign but one of them was invasive ductal carcinoma. My surgeon was amazing and everyone that deal with is as well. There are great practitioners if you need them - and this is a good place to network should you need more.

Sending hugs and calm your way. Hope this helps.