Something’s shown up on your mammogram. Now what?

Your doctor may want you to have a Breast MRI.

When a mammogram reveals an abnormality, doctors have a number of reliable tools available to help determine the nature of the problem and affect a positive outcome. In most cases, the next step would likely be an ultrasound or biopsy – tried and true tests that help determine the best course of treatment. But in some cases, a relatively new diagnostic tool – Breast MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – may be the best way to determine precisely what’s going on inside the breast.

“One advantage of the MRI is that it allows doctors to look at the breast, not just anatomically, but from a physiological standpoint as well,’ explains Allison Lamont, MD, a Diagnostic Radiologist at the Elkhart General Breast Care Center. “Let’s say the mammogram reveals an abnormal mass in the breast. The mass may be completely benign – or it may be cancer. During an MRI procedure a contrast solution is introduced into the breast and doctors are able to watch – in real time – how the mass reacts to the solution. If it behaves basically the same way as the surrounding tissue, it’s a good sign. The mass may not be malignant. But if we see an abnormal reaction, it’s a strong indicator that we may be dealing with cancer.”

Breast MRI is also helping doctors more effectively treat cancer. According to Lamont, “Once a patient has been diagnosed with breast cancer, MRI is one of the most reliable ways to search for additional cancer locations. Has the cancer spread to other areas of the breast? Has it spread to the other breast? With MRI, we have a more complete picture of the patient’s condition, and that helps us more forward with the best surgical approach.”

MRI can alro be used to evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing treatment. For example, if a patient is scheduled for chemotherapy, she might have a breast MRI at the beginning of treatment and again after the first few sessions to determine how effectively the prescribed chemotherapy “cocktail” is working. This gives doctors the chance to adjust the treatment midstream if appropriate.

Lamont emphasizes that MRI should not be considered a screening tool. “Digital Mammography continues to be the gold standard when it comes to routine annual screening,” she remarks. “It’s affordable. It’s almost universally available. And year after year it continues to meet exceptionally high standards for reliability. But when we see a patient with an abnormality, Breast MRI gives us a powerful new way to effectively diagnose and treat her condition, significantly upping her odds of survival.”

To schedule a Digital Mammogram, please call the Breast Care Center at (574) 523-7842.