How accurate is MRI in showing lymph node involvement?

It wasn't accurate for me. Showed no cancer and then I end up with two affected nodes after surgery. But please don't panic. I'm just one example.

Mine looked clear but I ended up with a micromet in my sentinel node. The only thing it changed was that instead of 22 radiation sessions, I had 33 and with a wider range to include that area. No big deal.

I had a biopsy of my SN and it was clear and then at surgery that node had a micromet. Stuff happens, but you can't control that so I would try not to waste time worrying the MRI is wrong. Just accept that so far so good and go from there. :-)

Hi eviec1!

In the old days, it was common to take out all the rest of the Levels 1 and 2 nodes in a procedure called ALND (Axillary Lymph Node Dissection). However, ALND is associated with lymphedema, and so surgeons now try to take just a few lymph nodes during surgery. Instead of relying on ALND these days, it is more common to increase the area radiated. So, instead of just radiating the breast, the RO also radiates the area where the lymph nodes reside.

I had ALND (20 nodes removed) back in 2015 and have not developed lymphedema. However, as you can see here at BCO.org, some breast cancer patients do develop this condition and have to find ways to cope with it. ((Hugs))

eviec1,

I would expect that your treatment would depend on how much cancer is in your sentinel nodes. If they're just bursting with cancer, you might end up with ALND. If they just have micromets, I would expect you'd get more radiation. Hope this helps!

My MRI showed no nodal involvement and it was accurate - my sentinel node biopsy also showed no nodal involvement.

How is it that you have oncotype results before your surgery?

I was going to ask the same thing. It doesn't seem like there would be enough to send out. That's great that you don't have to wait.

I actually had the opposite happen, I had two suspicious nodes identified during my Breast MRI, along with the tumor. The tumor did, in fact end up being IDC. The two suspicious nodes, however, were benign reactive nodes.

My nodes looked good in imaging but unfortunately came back positive. One with extra nodal extension. My surgeon had me scheduled for ALND but after meeting with the tumor board she advised radiation would be an option without having the ALND. I chose the radiation and was thankful my implant survived ( I had immediate recon)

Clear MrI.. surgery showed 7 positve nodes...treatment plan changed to add chemo...I think the best thing to do is not worry until it is time to worry....easier said than done, I know

Best Wishes

MRI missed my positive nodes twice. Blindsided twice after surgery by pathology. I have to see radiation on Monday to see if they will do radiation again, or if it's back to surgery for ALND.

My imaging also showed that my lymph nodes where clear. 3 Lymph nodes appeared normal when surgeon removed them, initial testing during surgery showed they where begnin. But ILC is sneaky so my surgeon and the pathologist didn't rely on this (I think they always do more testing), but further testing showed that all three lymph nodes had cancer. I am now scheduled for auxiliary node dissection on July 12th along with having a port placed for Chemo.

In my situation the mri showed no cancer in lymph nodes. During surgery I had 2 in nodes. My surgeon removed 12 nodes. Just finished radiation treatment 3 weeks ago. Going thru the effects of radiation, wow it’s rough right now