Contrast-enhanced MR mammography for evaluation of the contralateral breast in patients with diagnosed unilateral breast cancer or high-risk lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively evaluate accuracy of gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) mammography for depiction of synchronous contralateral breast cancer in patients with newly diagnosed unilateral breast cancer or high-risk lesions, with histologic analysis or follow-up as reference.


METHODS
The study had ethics committee approval; all patients provided written informed consent. One hundred eighteen consecutive women (mean age, 52 years) with unilateral breast cancer or high-risk lesions and negative findings in the contralateral breast at physical examination, ultrasonography, and conventional mammography underwent gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced 1.5-T MR mammography. Transverse three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient-echo images were acquired before and at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 minutes after gadobenate dimeglumine administration (0.1 mmol per kilogram body weight). Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) was used to categorize breast density and the level of suspicion for malignant contralateral breast lesions. Results were compared with histologic findings. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for contrast-enhanced MR mammography were evaluated.


RESULTS
Contrast-enhanced MR mammography revealed contralateral lesions in 28 (24%) of 118 patients. Twenty-four lesions were detected in patients with dense breasts (BI-RADS breast density category III or IV). Lesions in eight (29%) of 28 patients were BI-RADS category 4; patients underwent biopsy. Lesions in 20 (71%) patients were BI-RADS category 5; patients underwent surgery. At histologic analysis, 22 lesions were confirmed as malignant; six lesions were fibroadenomas. No false-negative lesions were detected; none of the fibroadenomas were BI-RADS category 5. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of contrast-enhanced MR mammography for depiction of malignant or high-risk contralateral lesions were 100%, 94%, 95%, 79%, and 100%, respectively. Follow-up findings (12-24 months) confirmed absence of contralateral lesions in 90 of 118 patients with negative contrast-enhanced MR mammographic findings in the contralateral breast.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast-enhanced MR mammography is accurate for detection of synchronous contralateral cancer or high-risk lesions in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer or high-risk lesions.
Pediconi
Federica
F
Department of Radiological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161 Rome, Italy. federica.pediconi@uniroma1.it
Catalano
Carlo
C
Roselli
Antonella
A
Padula
Simona
S
Altomari
Fiorella
F
Moriconi
Enrica
E
Pronio
Anna Maria
AM
Kirchin
Miles A
MA
Passariello
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine