MRI patterns of invasive lobular cancer: T1 and T2 features.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns in 21 patients with histologically proven invasive lobular cancer (ILC) of the breast.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed MR images of 21 out of 24 women with ILC of the breast. Three women were excluded from the study because they underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy after MRI. Thirteen of the 24 women had positive clinical findings. All 24 patients underwent mammography, sonography and MRI. MRI was performed to evaluate disease extent and multifocality/multicentricity before modified radical mastectomy (n=5) or quadrantectomy (n=16). Two experienced radiologists reviewed the MRI scans and described the tumour patterns.


RESULTS
We identified five morphological patterns of ILC: a solitary mass with irregular margins (n=8); a mass with smooth margins (n=5); multiple small enhancing foci with interconnecting enhancing strands (n=4); dominant lesion surrounded by small foci (n=3); one MR examination was negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Architectural and dynamic features are important in the interpretation of breast MRI findings. ILC may be detected on MRI as solitary or multiple lesions that correspond to tumour morphology on pathologic examination. False-negative MRI findings do occur in a small percentage of ILC.
Levrini
G
G
Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria Nuova, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy. Gabriele.levrini@asmn.re.it
Mori
C A
CA
Vacondio
R
R
Borasi
G
G
Nicoli
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
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