Sensitivity and specificity of MR mammography with histopathological correlation in 250 breasts.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our prospective study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of MR mammography (MRM) in detecting malignant disease.


METHODS
In 231 consecutive patients scheduled for surgery because of mammographic or palpable lesions suspected of malignancy, the breasts were examined with T1-weighted transversal images using a 3-D fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence. One pre- and 2 post-contrast images were obtained. Histological examination of the surgical specimens showed carcinoma in 155 breasts, of which 138 were invasive and 17 in situ.


RESULTS
MRM detected 144 of the 155 malignancies and was false-negative in 11 cases. Eight of these MRM-missed tumours were invasive and 3 were in situ cancers. Benign lesions were found at microscopy in 95 breasts, of which MRM correctly diagnosed 69. The cellular composition of the 26 false-positive lesions (myxomatous stromal change, high vascularity, and epithelial or apocrine hyperplasia) might explain the false positivity. The sensitivity and specificity of MRM were 93% and 73% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
MRM should be interpreted with caution, and supplemented with e.g. mammography and ultrasonography.
Boné
B
B
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
Aspelin
P
P
Bronge
L
L
Isberg
B
B
Perbeck
L
L
Veress
B
B
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA