Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Assignment Example

Download file to see previous pages The breast tissue is subjected to cyclical changes owing to the fluctuations in the levels of the hormones, estrogen and progesterone according to the different phases of the monthly cycle. During the luteal phase of the cycle, the amount of progesterone increases in the body mainly due to its production by the corpus luteum. The levels of estrogen are also high. The effect of progesterone is more pronounced also due to the rise in the number of progesterone receptors in the breast during the luteal cycle. This results in the formation of fluid, an increase in the process of mitosis as well as increased synthesis of DNA in all the tissues of the breast. There is an increase in the epithelial cells of the breast accompanied by an increase in the size of the lobules and ducts in the breast. This further leads to an increase in the size of the breast as well as tenderness in the breast. These account principally for the breast symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome in females. The breast may also develop cystic characteristics in this phase of the cycle which are temporary and resolve with the end of the luteal phase. The follicular phase follows the luteal phase and the initiation of menstruation occurs. This results in the destruction of the corpus luteum and the subsequent drop in the levels of estrogen and progesterone. The epithelium of the breast undergoes reduction and the ducts and the lobules are reduced to maintain their previous normal size (Bass et al 2005; Fritz et al 2010).
The cyclical changes of the breast are important when scheduling the breast MRI. The normal breast MRI shows a generalized contrast enhancement and the strength of the signals increases in a stepwise fashion. But during the luteal phase, the increase in the hormones may result in the increased enhancement in certain areas of the breast owing to the cystic changes. ...Download file to see next pages Read More