Three-dimensional MR imaging of mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications

• Published in: Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 116 - 124
• Main Authors: Nakahara, H, Namba, K, Fukami, A, Watanabe, R, Maeda, Y, Furusawa, H, Matsu, T, Akiyama, F, Nakagawa, H, Ifuku, H, Nakahara, M, Tamura, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 01.04.2001
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Breast - pathology; Breast Diseases - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Calcinosis - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Mammography; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 1340-6868; 1880-4233
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02967490

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value and clinical significance of three-dimensional MR imaging of the breast in patients with mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications. Forty patients with suspicious microcalcifications on mammography were evaluated with three-dimensional MR imaging. MR findings were grouped mainly by distribution of abnormal enhancement (linear, focal-clumped, segmental-clumped, segmental-stippled and diffuse-stippled). These findings were compared with the mammography findings according to the criteria of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) and histopathologic data. Twenty patients had proven malignancies, most frequently ductal carcinoma in situ. For all the cases, linear (100%) and segmental-clumped type (100%) enhancement on MR imaging showed a significantly higher risk for malignancy. Diffuse stippled type (7%) and no enhancement (0%) on MR imaging indicated the lowest possibility of malignancy. 3D-MR imaging showed a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 95% and an overall accuracy of 93% in this study. Three-dimensional MR imaging of the breast can more accurately diagnose ductal carcinoma in situ. Combined with mammography, this procedure is useful for reducing the number of false-positive biopsies and helpful for deciding the better management of patients with mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications.