The specificity of contrast-enhanced breast MR imaging

The sensitivity of contrast-enhanced breast MR imaging for malignancy is close to 100%, an improvement over traditional methods of cancer detection. The reported specificity of breast MR imaging, however, ranges from approximately 37% to 97%. This range of values is the result of differences in technique and diagnostic criteria. The variation in biologic activity and vascularity of benign and malignant lesions, as well as normal tissue, also complicates MR imaging diagnosis. A review of breast MR imaging research with an emphasis on specificity issues is also presented.