MR Imaging of the Breast : Current Status and Future Potential

Abstract

The potential role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of breast disorders has been investigated since the late 1970s. However, conventional MR imaging has not been reliable for diagnosis of breast masses, and so contrast MRI has been performed. In particular, the gradient echo technique combined with administration Gd-DTPA (i. e. dynamic MRI) improves lesion detection and tissue characterization of breast masses. In recent studies, breast MR imaging has shown up to : 100% sensitivity in the detection of breast cancer. On the other hand, its specificity varies between 37% and 97% because of the fact that many benign lesions are also enhanced with Gd-DTPA, similar to breast cancer. Recently, the use of MR imaging has been felt to be of value in prebiopsy examination to reduce the number of surgical biopsies for false-positive mammography. To improve the specificity of MR imaging, MR imaging-guided localization and biopsy for breast lesions will be necessary.