ABSTRACT

Our aim was to analyze breast lesions meeting the malignancy criteria on mammography and breast ultrasonography (US), by using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Fifty females with findings of malignancy on mammography and US, with a mean age ± SD of 50.79 ± 11.1 years were included. 51 breast lesions were evaluated using a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging system. T2-weighted turbo inversion recovery magnitude, precontrast T1-weighted SE and 3D T1-weighted Fast Low Angle Shot images were obtained. Postcontrast 3D T1-weighted fast low angle shot sequence with fat suppression was applied after intravenous administration of Gadopentenate diethylene tri-amine pentaacetic acid. Lesions were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively according to their morphology and contrast enhancement kinetics.

Mean size ± SD of the lesions was 29.15 ± 11.5 mm. On MRI, 18 lesions had spiculated contours, 26 had irregular contours, five had lobular contours and two had regular contours. Of 51 breast lesions, 36 (70.6%) were histopathologically diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma, seven (13.7%) as invasive lobular carcinoma, three (5.9%) as invasive tubular carcinoma, three (5.9%) as inflammatory carcinoma and two (3.9%) as mucinous carcinoma. Indicating malignancy, type 3 time-signal intensity curve and early-phase contrast enhancement rate more than 80%, were detected in 35/51 (68.6%) and 39/51 (76.5%) breast lesions, respectively. Indicating benignity, type 1 time-signal intensity curve and early-phase contrast enhancement rate equal to or less than 60%, were detected in 1/51 (2%) and 3/51 (5.9%) breast lesions, respectively.

Used with mammography and US, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is a useful method in diagnosis of malignant breast lesions.

Keywords: Breast, carcinoma, magnetic resonance imaging, contrast media