MRI OF HISTOLOGICALLY CONFIRMED MAMMARY-CARCINOMA - CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES FOR DETECTION OF MULTIFOCAL OR CONTRALATERAL SECONDARY CARCINOMA

Purpose: MR mammography (MRM) is a sensitive diagnostic method for the detection of mammary carcinomas. The present study evaluates whether MRM can yield additional relevant data in cases of histologically conf irmed mammary carcinoma.Method: Thirty-four patients with histological ly confirmed mammary carcinoma were examined at MRM using a T1-weighte d GE sequence and a T2-weighted SE sequence. Morphologic criteria and the dynamic contrast medium behavior of the tumors were evaluated. Res ults: MRM showed a 100% sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy in the det ection of mammary carcinomas. Additionally, three unexpected contralat eral carcinomas were discovered. In 26 patients, there was a multifoca l or multicentric tumor process. In 24 patients, peritumoral edema was visualized, which corresponded histologically in 21 patients with lym phangiosis and in 3 with an inflammatory peritumoral reaction. Conclus ion: Because of its high sensitivity in the diagnosis of multifocal di sease and of contralateral carcinomas, MRM would seem to represent a u seful addition to preoperative diagnostic procedures. The potential be nefit to the patient and its cost efficiency, however, remain to be cl arified.