Magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic tool for breast cancer in premenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
Screening mammography has led to earlier diagnosis of breast cancer; however, the increased tissue density of young women can complicate mammographic interpretation. We hypothesized that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has value in detection of mammographically occult breast cancers, particularly in premenopausal women for whom the sensitivity of mammography is compromised.


METHODS
Data were available for 89 women with biopsy-proven breast cancer who had undergone both mammography and breast MRI. Variables evaluated included menopausal status and radiographic findings. Data were analyzed using Fisher's Exact test; P < .05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Of the 89 women in our study, 69 were perimenopausal or postmenopausal and 20 were premenopausal at the time of diagnosis. The malignant lesion was identified on mammography and MRI for a majority of patients. One third of premenopausal women had negative mammography but positive MRI findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support a role for breast MRI in supplementing conventional mammography for early detection of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
Wright
Heather
H
Department of General Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave., A80 Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Listinsky
Jay
J
Rim
Alice
A
Chellman-Jeffers
Melanie
M
Patrick
Rebecca
R
Rybicki
Lisa
L
Kim
Julian
J
Crowe
Joseph
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium