MRI vs. Mammogram-what do you do for check-ups....

[RobinP]

I know the standard of care is still yearly mammograms for most people for screening and follow-up. However, I was just curious if any of us here do screening with Breast MRI rather than mammogram or both? From what I read it does sound more reliable if you have any breast implants or have dense breasts.Plus, the MRI shows more suspicious areas than a mammogram; however, as I understand it, the MRI also sometimes can show false positive areas that are really not of concern, causing false alarms and unecessary biopsies.

[saleboat]

I get one mammogram and one MRI a year, each six months apart. I think I get the MRI because of my age/dense breasts. Not sure if it is standard of care for everyone at my treatment center.

Jen

[Grace]

I recently had my six-month mammogram after lumpectomy--a bit painful in two ways, physical and emotional, emotional because they called me in for more films, and then I received a BI-Rad 3 reading of probably benign. When I asked my breast surgeon if she could send me for an MRI to make sure it was really benign, she said an MRI so soon after surgery would show too many false positives. She had radialogy reread the films for my comfort and said the next time (I still have a dense breast even after lumpectomy and menopause) they would do a digital mammogram, which is better for seeing through dense breasts. However, she also cautioned that digital mammograms are not as good as analog for seeing microcalcifications. None of the methods I gather are perfect.

[caya]

I am 48, premenopausal, dense breasts. I have had a mammogram and a few breast ultrasounds every year since I as 40. I had a mammogram and breast ultrasound June 29, 2006 - showing nothing (lol) - went in for a breast reduction on Oct. 16, 2006 - less than 4 months later - my plastic surgeon found my 1.7 cm. tumor... Went to the onc. and breast surgeon, onc. sent me for a breast MRI before the mastectomy, mainly to check for the "good" breast - another 1.0 cm. lit up on the MRI on the "bad" breast, which was coming off anyways.
I will never trust any test but an MRI or PET scan - I should have been having breast MRIs years ago because of the breast density - recent studies have confirmed that dense breasted women are 5x more likely to develop BC -
Talk to your onc./surgeon, because as Grace says after BC surgery MRIs could "light up" areas that are still too new.

Caya

[Linda]

I had breast conservation and get a mammogram of the affected breast every six months, both breasts once a year and an MRI once a year. I think that will continue for the 3 years...not sure. I go to a big LA breast center.
Linda

[RobinP]

Thanks for the responses. I think I will look into the MRI this year for screening. I had been getting only the mammogram for follow-up. (I had a mastectomy and only have one breast now to worry with!) Link to advantages and disadvantages of breast MRI for those interested. PS I like the idea that you don't get radiation exposure with the MRI.

http://www.mrsc.ucsf.edu/breast/what_is_breast_mri.html

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/breast-cancer-MRI

http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/mri.asp

[MCS]

i was recommended to do mri since both breasts are gone, once a year. if you have silicone implants ask for special mris.

it may bring false positives but it also catches all else.

i had mamos before on the good breast because for micro calcifications, mammos are detected better. search on this topic on the board, you'll see my questions

MCS ( maria)

[RobinP]

Last week, I picked up my husband's New Eng. J. Medicine magazine and read an article about the new breast MRI recommendations. They now advocate breast MRI for NEWLY diagnosed on the basis that occult bc may be found in the breast remaining or other breast. They also recommend it for those with a high risk of breast cancer, 20% or higher. If you read the NEJM article full abstract, the specific recommendation for those with a history of bc is not well defined, at least in this article.


Here are the links to the New Eng. J. Med.:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa065447v1

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMe078006v1

Link to Layman's article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/health/28mri.html?ex=1332734400&en=6756fec158c6cb84&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[mts]

I am one of those who had an MRI that found more cancer where a mammo and ultrasound found nothing. My onc since then has recommended all 3 modalities regardless of the denseness of my breasts. I get all three once a year.

The most important thing to do is to make sure that whoever "reads" the films MUST be experienced in breast health. Many times, scar tissue can mimic cancer or vice-versa on an MRI and an inexperienced radiologist might misinterpret.

Maria (MTS)