Breast Cancer : What are the chances of having a false positive with an MRI and then having a biopsy?

What are the chances of having a false positive with an MRI and then having a biopsy?

Cancel

Topic Tags:

Breast Cancer Screening, Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Breast Cancer Imaging, Screening Guidelines, Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Results, Breast Imaging, Breast Cancer False Positives, Breast Cancer Screening Risks, Mammogram Results, Breast Cancer, Screening Results, Screening Mammograms, Screening, Breast Cancer Biopsy

Done

Diseases:

Breast Cancer

Diseases:

Breast Cancer

Done

Expert Answers

ChrisFlowersMD (Physician - Radiology (Verified) ) - 06 / 25 / 2012

This is a rather open question, but both ultrasound and MRI screening for women at high risk have revealed the potential for increasing false positive exams; that is, having a recall or biopsy when the eventual outcome is not one of cancer. The rate of false positive MRI findings is dependent on a number of things, from whether you are already a high risk person, in which case the radiologist is playing it safe with a lower threshold than normal, your hormonal status (young or peri-menopausal), or the timing of the MRI with regards to the menstrual cycle. Radiologists who do not read breast MRI as part of their job are also much more likely to call a normal area of breast tissue as suspicious and require a biopsy. Best advice is to seek out the best center in your area that is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR), and find out about the experience of their radiologists. If they are not accredited, check out another provider to have this done.

Join Now to ask a follow-up question or share your experience!
We'll help guide and support you through treatments.

Similar Questions

If I am having neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer, when is the sentinel lymph node biopsy typically performed?

What is the recovery process after having a lobectomy?

After having a radical prostatectomy, what is the recovery process?

What are the benefits of having a skin sparing mastectomy?

What is the recovery process after having a GAP flap?

Note: All content on this site is informational and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with questions regarding your health.

Note: Usernames have been made anonymous and profile images are not shown to protect the privacy of our members.

Flag Content

Please explain why you are flagging this content. Thank you.

Cancel

Thank you for flagging this content. We will look into it right away.

Give a 'Thank you' to

Cancel

Add Answer

1) Question:

2) Background Info (optional): What context or background information is relevant to this request?

Notes:
The more clear and thorough your request, the more likely you will receive support.
Many of our members are learning from this information or english might not be their first language. Please use standard english and spell out all words. For example, use 'you' instead of 'u'.

Thank you for sharing your question.

Our topic related experts will review the question and will either answer right away, find the right specialist, or save the question for the next relevant Q&A workshop. Responses will be sent to your email account as well as viewable at the following link on TalkAboutHealth:

We are finding other members now to join the chat.

Click here to start the chat.

Newsletters

Subscribe to our free updates for the latest news, best answers and featured experts!

Your Email:

Q&A Workshop Announcements
(Featured experts, answers, tips, & latest news.)

Q&A Workshop Summaries
(Answer summaries from our expert Q&A workshops.)

Best of TalkAboutHealth (weekly)
(The week's best answers, news & support.)

TalkAboutHealth Benefits
(Custom health, wellness & medical promotions from our partners including clinical trials, market research opportunities, & new programs.)

No Thanks View all Newsletters