[MRI of breast tumors with emphasis on histopathologic correlation]

Breast MR imaging is now expected as the third most important diagnostic modality. The author investigated relationship between signal intensity of T2 weighted images (T2WI) and various pathological findings of 51 mass lesions in 51 female patients. T2WI were not effective in differentiation between malignant and benign lesions. High signal intensity areas defined visually well correlated with pathological tissues with large water content such as necrosis, edema, cyst and dilatated ducts. There was also good correlation between low signal intensity areas and pathological tissue with less water content such as fibrosis, scar, and hyalinization. Signal intensity measured by tumor/fat ratio had no correlation with water content. It probably indicates that visually defined signal intensity is more reliable than the measured ratio. In conclusion, it is warranted to say that T2WI is a good tool for investigating secondary changes of breast tumors and helpful in diagnosis of high intensity tumors described above.