THE DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN-SITU IN CONTRAST- ENHANCED DYNAMIC MR MAMMOGRAPHY

Purpose: To define the value of contrast-enhanced MR mammography in du ctal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Material and methods: In a group of 35 patients with DCIS, the results of MR imaging were compared to histopa thology and immunohistochemistry in a retrospective study. Results: In 35 patients with DCIS, a signal enhancement was found in 25 cases (72 %). In 15 of these cases,the signal time curve was typical for malign ancy. The other 10 patients had non-specific signal curves. Six of 35 patients (11 %) had no enhancement within the tumour region. Four of 3 5 patients (11 %) had bilateral diffuse signal increase, and regions o f DCIS could not be identified clearly. Three DCIS were visualised exc lusively by MR mammography. The configuration of signal enhancement wa s sharp (32 %), unsharp (48 %) or dendritic (20 %). DCIS of the comedo type showed a significantly higher enhancement than the non-comedo ty pe. A significant correlation between the grade of vascularisation in immunohistochemistry and signal enhancement in MR mammography could no t be demonstrated. Conclusion: Dynamic MR mammography does not reliabl y visualise DCIS.