MRI of Breast with a port

Patb · 06-25-2007, 05:02 PM

Hi all
Recently my surgeon said ok to do MRI of breast just as a precaution.
When I called the center to see what to bring I mentioned the port and
they said no they cannot do MRI with a port in as it causes an artifact?
So no test for me now. Thanks for any input on this. Good week to all.
patb

Cosmo · 06-25-2007, 05:45 PM

Hi Pat,

I've had MRIs with a port. As long as it's the kind of port without any metal in it, I think it's fine.

Karen

Colleen007 · 06-25-2007, 06:23 PM

I have had 2 Breast MRIs with my port and many other MRI's on my back and have never had any issues. They are not able to use the port to inject the contrast agent, so they just use my arm for that. You might want to check again (or look into having the MRI done at a different facility).

Chelee · 06-25-2007, 06:49 PM

My port is in my *upper arm* and not the chest. But that said..my surgeon was MAD at me and THOUGHT I should be happy with my mammo & Ultrasound results which weren't satisfactory to me. So I asked for a breast MRI. He got ticked off...I feel he thought it was expensive and didn't want to do it. So he comes up with an excuse and tells me "You CAN'T have a breast MRI...you have a PORT in". This was the FIRST I heard of that so I called my chemo nurse and called the place that gives me the MRI's. Everyone told me it was no problem.

I GOT my breast MRI...there was no problem for me once I checked into it. I think many surgeons/doctors just want to get out of doing them if they can due to expense. JMHO...no one has to agree. There may be newer ports that might have more metal..but in most cases its done all the time.

Chelee

Bev · 06-25-2007, 07:24 PM

Also had MRI with port. Is your port in your breast? Mine was in my chest a couple of inches above unaffected breast. I would be surprised if this would affect MRI as this area can't drop thru the square holes to where the breast coils on machine are located.

So if I were you I would call the doc that wrote the order for the MRI and ask. My guess is the MRI scheduler may have the wrong info. BB.

Yorkiegirl · 06-25-2007, 07:42 PM

I have also had an MRI with my port in, and it wasn't a problem.

tousled1 · 06-25-2007, 08:15 PM

I've had several MRIs since my ort placement - not of my breast as I don't have them anymore. The port does show up on the MRI but the doctor reading the MRI recognizes it as a port and not something else.

Patricia · 06-25-2007, 10:02 PM

I have also had several MRIs and also have a port. I would call another center and see if you can get it done there instead. My port was never discussed as a concern at both UCSF Cancer Center and Stanford Hospital Cancer Center where I had mine done.

I would worry about a center that doesn't do MRIs with a port in because it would indicate to me that they don't have enough experience and therefore may also not be as experienced at reading them.

It is amazing to me how much we as patients have to fight for our own care with this disease. I am so thankful for this site and all the varied experiences we all share here to get a sense of what is right and wrong in our care so that we can be our own best advocates.

Hugs,
Patricia

Patb · 06-26-2007, 08:14 AM

Thanks for all your input. I will call them back and see what they say.
I do think it is a new facility but the only one locally that does it.
patb