MRI of the Lactating Breast

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Oncology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Physiologic breast changes during lactation challenge conventional imaging (mammography, ultrasound).
• Increasing incidence of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) and breast cancer in lactating women necessitates advanced imaging.
• Delays in PABC diagnosis are linked to a worse prognosis and advanced-stage disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review clinical indications for breast MRI in lactating women.
• To describe characteristic MRI features of the lactating breast.
• To compare MRI findings of benign and malignant breast abnormalities in lactating patients.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical indications for breast MRI in lactating women.
• Description of characteristic MRI features of the lactating breast.
• Comparison of MRI features for benign and malignant breast conditions.

Main Results:

• Contrast-enhanced MRI is safe during lactation, despite concerns during pregnancy.
• MRI aids in differentiating benign from malignant breast processes in lactating women.
• MRI assists in disease delineation, staging, screening, treatment response assessment, and surgical planning.

Conclusions:

• Breast MRI is a valuable tool for lactating women, offering diagnostic aid and improved staging.
• Familiarity with lactating breast MRI features is crucial to avoid diagnostic pitfalls and treatment delays.
• MRI plays an increasing role in the diagnostic evaluation and high-risk screening of lactating women.