Is a bi-lateral MRI standard procedure?

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EminGA2018
EminGA2018 Member Posts: 49
edited July 2021 in Just Diagnosed

I have my first appointment with a surgeon on Friday. I was told by my doc back home (I called her after my DX) that I should have a bi-lateral MRI prior to any surgery. However, we live in a smaller town now with less resources. I'm noticing that procedure is a lot different here. Is a bi-lateral MRI something I should fight for? I was diagnosed with IDC &DCIS in my left but have been called back for magnifications due to suspicious calcifications in my right breast several times. My right has very dense tissue. It’s tough to read

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  • 1982M
    1982M Member Posts: 300
    edited July 2021

    I don’t think everyone gets a breast MRI, but you should definitely discuss it with your surgeon about getting one before your surgery. They may even order one after they talk to you. It sounds like you may benefit since your high risk (having breast cancer already) plus dense breast.

    I had a normal mammogram, tumour found on targeted ultrasound, a biopsy. Before the results came back my surgeon ordered a breast MRI. I believe it’s bc I have dense breast tissue, my tumour wasn’t seen on the mammogram, and it will help provide additional imaging of the tumour for resection as well as check out any other area’s of concern.

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  • kathabus
    kathabus Member Posts: 205
    edited July 2021

    I would personally want one. My breast surgeon ordered one before surgery and looking back...it made me confident in my surgery decision and I felt like we weren't missing anything. And it did find a papilloma that we removed, so it was worth it.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited July 2021

    I had one after my first appointment with the surgeon. She orders them to more accurately pinpoint the tumor location prior to surgery. I don't know if she orders them for mastectomies where the entire breast is removed, but I was having a lumpectomy.

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  • Krose53
    Krose53 Member Posts: 148
    edited July 2021

    My breast surgeon recommended it. I also had dense breasts. They found 2 small tumors in my R breast that were missed by mammograms and ultrasound. I had thought I was going to have a lumpectomy because ofthe tumor in my L breast. After the MRI, I decided on a BMX.

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