Trying to understand MRI Results

I am so sorry you are going through this. Waiting is horrible.

People use these imaging techniques to find out what looks like cancer. If you know what kind of clothes and hair that your friend Mary has, then if you see her only from her back, you have a pretty good idea that it is Mary, but you won't really know until she turns around.

There probably isn't a person here who is a radiologist trained in breast MRI.
But normally the words they use are ONLY describing in technical language what they actually, factually see on the MRI, not something they are guessing.

So, for example, on sonograms they may use the words 'hypoechoic lesion', which just means that the sono (which uses sound waves) found a place (lesion) where the waves don't bounce back and echo as much (hypoechoic). They are NOT committing themselves to whether or not it is breast cancer - because they cannot.

So I'm guessing 'enhancing focus' is the same kind of gobblygook.

BIRADS is a way of classifying mammos, and 0 is the most benign you can get; BIRADS 5 is characteristic of cancer.

MRIs are notoriously sensitive, but notoriously also give a lot of false positives - things that are NOT cancer show up there too. People with inflammation can have their MRIs show up like Christmas lights. So a lot of NONCANCEROUS 'junk' can show up on MRIs.

"MRI is useful in:
evaluating a woman who has a palpable mass that isn't visible with ultrasound or mammography

assessing a lesion in the densely glandular breast of a young woman <snip>

Even at its best, MRI produces many uncertain findings. Some radiologists call these "unidentified bright objects," or UBOs." http://www.breastcancer.org/testing_mri.html#mri

Its very hard not to worry. I worried myself sick before all of my biopsies. We want to be prepared for what is coming to us down the road, no matter how small the chance.


But even for regular, mammo-guided, or sono-guided biopsies, about 80% of these biopsies are benign. I would expect that MRIs would probably generate even a higher percentage of benign biopsies.

Feel free to post here and vent. That's what we are here for.
Thinking of you and wishing you breast health,
Leaf

I think BiRADS 0 means inconclusive/not enough data. Even so - not much can be known until you get the biopsy done - the truth is in the pathology - anything else is pure speculation. Waiting is the pits - but statistically, 80% of lumps turn out to be benign, so odds are in your favor. It may not seem like it from the responses here (since this is a breast cancer site!) - and most here came out in the unfortunate other 20%! Waiting sucks, but don't worry until you know you have to! Good luck!

Mary

You're right, Weimarmom and mbordo. I was wrong. Thank you.. I learned something new.

What is BI-RADS? BI-RADS is a system that was developed by radiologists for reporting mammogram results using a common language. The radiologist assigns a single digit BI-RADS score (ranging from 0 to 5) when the report of your mammogram is created.

What does BI-RADS 0 mean? BI-RADS 0 identifies a mammogram study that is not yet complete. You need to make sure that further evaluation is completed, perhaps extra mammography views or an ultrasound. Further information is needed to make a final assessment (codes 1 to 5).

What does BI-RADS 1 mean? BI-RADS 1 means that the mammogram was negative (ie, no cancer) and that you should continue your routine screening.

What does BI-RADS 2 mean? BI-RADS 2 also means that your mammogram was normal (ie, no cancer), but other findings (eg, cysts) are described in the report. You should continue your routine screening.

What does BI-RADS 3 mean? BI-RADS 3 means that your mammogram is probably normal but a repeat mammogram should be completed in 6 months. The chance of breast cancer is approximately 2% in this category. You should make sure that these follow-up mammograms are completed as requested.

What does BI-RADS 4 mean? BI-RADS 4 means that the findings on your mammogram are suspicious and that there is approximately a 23% to 34% chance that this is breast cancer. You will need a biopsy to get a small tissue sample to make a diagnosis. Talk to your doctors about any questions.

What is a biopsy? Biopsy is done to obtain a piece of the breast tissue to determine whether there is cancer. The biopsy may be done using a needle technique (a "needle biopsy") or may require a surgical operation (a "surgical biopsy"). When a needle biopsy is an option, it is usually preferred.

What does BI-RADS 5 mean? BI-RADS 5 means that your mammogram results are highly suspicious with a 95% chance of breast cancer. You will need to have a biopsy for diagnosis. Talk to your doctors about what course of action to take.

What does BI-RADS 6 mean? BI-RADS 6 means that you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer. Discuss your treatment plan with your doctors.

Why do I need to know my BI-RADS score? Knowing your BI-RADS number can help to make sure that you get proper follow-up after your mammogram. It is a good thing for you to know that score so you can keep track, along with your physician, of what you need to do and actively participate in your medical care.
http://doctor.medscape.com/viewarticle/524584_5

But I don't know what they call it if your mammo risk for bc is between 34-95%