Preoperative Evaluation of Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Lesions with MR Microscopy: Comparison with Clinical and Ultrasonic Diagnoses Based upon Pathological Diagnosis

Abstract

We examined MR microscopy imaging from 60 cases of cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions using a 40-mm microscopic surface coil at our hospital from April 2007 to September 2008. Nineteen males and 41 females were enrolled in the study. We compared clinical, ultrasonographic, and MR microscopic diagnoses based upon pathological diagnosis in 27 cases. In 17 of 27 cases (63%), the MR microscopic diagnosis was identical to the pathological diagnosis. In 8 of 27 cases (30%), the clinical diagnosis was consistent with the pathological diagnosis. The concordance rate was significantly higher in MR microscopy than in clinical diagnosis by Fisherʼs exact test (P<0.05). We demonstrated the usefulness of MR microscopy using a microscopic surface coil for preoperative evaluation of cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions.