Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 2, 2025
Tracking the Mammary Architectural Features and Detecting Breast Cancer with Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: December 15, 2014
The value of noncontrast MRI in evaluating breast imaging reporting and data system category 0 lesions on digital
Ruixin Zhang1,2, Maosheng Xu1,2, Changyu Zhou1,2
1Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China.
Background:
Benign and malignant diagnosis of nonpalpable breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) category 0 lesions on digital mammograms (DMs) is very important. We compared the diagnostic performance of non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for them. We sought to evaluate BI-RADS category 0 lesions using 3 MRI sequences: short tau inversion recovery (STIR), STIR combined with high b value diffusion-weighted imaging (STIR-DWI), and DCE-MRI.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed 114 breast DMs rated as nonpalpable BI-RADS category 0 lesions in 112 patients from January 2014 to June 2019. STIR, high b value DWI, and DCE-MRI were performed for all patients. Two breast radiologists read individual sequences (STIR, DWI, DCE-MRI) and pairs of sequences (STIR-DWI) to detect BI-RADS category 0 lesions in DMs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess diagnostic performance according to a best valuable comparator that combined MRI imaging, clinical, and pathological data.
Results:
Among of 114 lesions (the median age of patients was 47 years; the median size of the lesion was 19 mm), 32 (48.5%) malignant lesions were missed by STIR, 9 (13.6%) malignant lesions were missed by STIR-DWI, and 3 (4.5%) malignant lesions were missed by DCE-MRI. The principal finding of our study was that STIR-DWI and DCE-MRI showed higher diagnostic accuracy than did STIR (P<0.01). STIR-DWI showed higher accuracy [area under the curve (AUC) =0.858; sensitivity =87.8%] for BI-RADS category 0 lesions in DMs than did STIR (AUC =0.754; sensitivity =51.5%), while the performance was comparable to that of DCE-MRI (AUC =0.884; sensitivity =95.5%).
Conclusions:
Using pairs of sequences (STIR-DWI) is a non-contrast-enhanced MRI technique and had an equal diagnostic performance in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions among nonpalpable BI-RADS category 0 lesions to that of DCE-MRI. As a result, STIR-DWI as having the potential to improve the safety and efficacy in of breast cancer screening, especially in nonpalpable BI-RADS category 0 lesions at in DMs.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging
01:30Radiological Investigation II: MRI and Ventilation Perfusion Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ventilation Perfusion Scans are two radiological investigations that offer detailed diagnostic images of the body, particularly lung structures.
MRI
MRI uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency signals to distinguish between normal and abnormal tissues. This technology provides a more detailed diagnostic image than CT scans, enabling it to characterize pulmonary nodules, stage bronchogenic carcinoma, and evaluate inflammatory activity in...