Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
Clinical Imaging of Microwave Mammography
Published on: November 14, 2025
Internal mammary lymph nodes as incidental findings at screening breast MRI
Kimberly M Ray1, Reema Munir2, Dorota J Wisner3
1University of California, San Francisco, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, 1600 Divisadero St., Room C250, Mail Box 1667, San Francisco, CA 94115.
Objective:
To evaluate the prevalence of internal mammary lymph nodes (IMLNs) on breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a screening population.
Materials And Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed 92 consecutive screening breast MRI exams. Logistic regression was performed to ascertain the risk of IMLNs in cancer-free subjects and to determine whether the risk varies with age.
Results:
IMLNs were present in 48.9% of patients. Mean node size was 4 mm (range, 3-10 mm). The prevalence of IMLNs was not related to age. No patients developed breast cancer after a mean follow-up of 3 years.
Conclusion:
Subcentimeter IMLNs are common incidental findings at screening breast MRI.
