Breast MR imaging with commercially available techniques: radiologic-pathologic correlation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical utility of dynamic gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the breast with commercially available techniques in patients scheduled for excisional biopsy.


METHODS
A total of 91 breast abnormalities, 70 benign and 21 malignant, were evaluated. Thin-section three-dimensional gradient-echo images were obtained before and 2, 4, and 7 minutes after injection of contrast material. Three radiologists prospectively evaluated the mammograms and MR images.


RESULTS
The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.820 for mammography and 0.893 for MR imaging (P = .67). Sensitivity of MR imaging was 82.5%, compared with 74.6% for mammography. Specificity of MR imaging was 82.5%, compared with 79.1% for mammography. Enhancement profiles showed early intense enhancement in malignancies but considerable overlap with enhancement of benign disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Breast MR imaging is a slightly more sensitive modality than mammography but not a highly specific technique for evaluating breast lesions. It has utility in several clinical situations but should not be used as a substitute for biopsy or general screening.
Fobben
E S
ES
Department of Radiology, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ 07039, USA.
Rubin
C Z
CZ
Kalisher
L
L
Dembner
A G
AG
Seltzer
M H
MH
Santoro
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA