Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

I have annual breast MRI because I still have one natural breast and one of my original breast tumors was only discovered on MRI. My most recent breast MRI noted that there is residual breast tissue in the implant side. For this very reason I would say that yes, you should have annual breast MRI, both to check the integrity of the implant and to check for further malignancy. Unfortunately it is usually the insurance companies placing restrictions on doing this, not he doctors or the patients. I would pay for it myself to be sure I was cancer free.

MRI is useful when someone is diagnosed with breast cancer. Before performing surgery we must confirm that there are no other lesions either in the same breast or the opposite breast. Sometimes tumors can be what we call "multifocal". MRI has been shown to be more sensitive than mammography for this purpose. Many people also recommend MRI for women who have a strong family history or who test positive for the gene. Several studies have shown MRI to be more sensitive than either mammography or ultrasound. It is not always specific however, so there will frequently be biopsies that are negative. MRI can be helpful as a "problem solver" when other tests have been inconclusive.

First, to clarify, I am NOT an MD or a clinician, I am a PhD and my area of expertise is in cancer biology. That being said, there are several different methods, in addition to mammography, that can be used to screen for breast cancer.
1. Ultrasound- Ultrasound is the use of high frequency sound waves that 'bounce' off of internal structures and can provide a picture of the inside of a breast.
2. Elastography- This is a variant of ultrasound in which two different images are obtained. The breast is imaged in the normal way and is then re-imaged while it is being compressed (squashed). The idea behind this is that normal breast tissue will easily squash down but cancers are hard and do not change shape when the breast is flattened out. When the two images are compared, areas can be identified that failed to flatten out.
3. Breast MRI-Magnetic resonance imaging uses a strong magnet to alter the properties of the water in the tissue being examined (breast tissue in this case) to create an image of the breast.

If any of the methods above lead to the suspicion of cancer, a biopsy can be performed to determine if cancer is present. Note that NO medical test is perfect and it is important to understand the limitations of the tests (see below).

Learn more about cancer detection and diagnosis methods on the CancerQuest website: http://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-detection-diagnosis. Videos are also available about medical testing.

My 3rd primary breast cancer was found by MRI in 2009. I'd had one in 2008 and it was clear. On the 2009 MRI a distinct but small area was all lit up. The tumor was small and would never have been found that early if I hadn't had the MRI. It was very hard to locate via ultrasound when I went in for the biopsy. That MRI saved my life.