How reliably can breast cancer be detected by an MRI of the breast? | How do you recognize breast cancer?

How reliably can breast cancer be detected by an MRI of the breast?

An MRI of the breast is also only used to complement mammography. However, this is primarily due to the costs of this examination. Recent studies have shown that MRI is superior to mammography and diagnoses more patients with breast cancer.

At the moment, however, MRI is only used for certain indications. These include patients with dense breast tissue, several suspicious areas in the breast or an unclear spread of the tumor. and MRI in breast cancer

Can breast cancer be detected despite silicone?

All screening tests can also be performed for women with silicone breast implants. The implants do not prevent the woman from having a palpation and the most common screening method, mammography.The implants are always placed under the glandular tissue of the breast where the cancer develops. Although the silicone hides the underlying structures on the X-ray image, the crucial part can thus be shown.

In mammography, the breast must be compressed between two plates. This is often not possible with implants because of the risk of damaging them. To ensure a good overview, more than the two usual images may have to be taken. If the findings are still too imprecise, further examinations such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging can be used.

Breast cancer during pregnancy

The occurrence of breast cancer during pregnancy is possible in principle, but is nevertheless rather rare. Due to the many changing hormone concentrations during a pregnancy, the mammary gland tissue changes. The breast grows, swells and thus prepares itself to be able to supply the newborn baby with breast milk after delivery.

This is the reason why a lump in the breast often becomes palpable much later (5-15 months later) than in non-pregnant women. The later diagnosis may mean that more aggressive treatment methods have to be chosen or that the prognosis worsens. Most women with breast cancer are between 32 and 38 years old.

In addition, more and more women become mothers at an advanced age. In combination, this means an increase in breast cancer cases in pregnant women over the next few years. Nevertheless, it should always be kept in mind that a structural change in the breast tissue during pregnancy is usually completely normal and is no cause for concern. If certainty is desired, it is possible to ask the gynecologist for a more detailed examination.