Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Tracking the Mammary Architectural Features and Detecting Breast Cancer with Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: December 15, 2014
[Dynamic MR-mammography in invasive lobular breast cancer]
1Institut für Radiologische Diagnostik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
Purpose:
The objective of our study was to test the reliability of dynamic, contrast-enhanced MR-mammography (MR-M) in the detection of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and to test if additional examination with MR-M increases the sensitivity of conventional mammography (Mx) in the detection of ILC.
Material And Methods:
We carried out 1,505 MR-Mammographies in 1,357 patients. Biopsy was indicated in 413 cases. Among the malignancies, 23/214 (10.7%) were ILC. MR-M was performed with a 1.0 T whole body MRI system with a dynamic FLASH-3D sequence. Relative signal enhancement within lesions detected and morphologic pattern of contrast enhancement (mep) were determined. Three types of mep were distinguished: type 1 without contrast enhancement, type 2 with focal contrast enhancement and type 3 with diffuse contrast enhancement of the glandular body.
Results:
Within MR-M alone, 19/23 (82.6%) of ILC were detected due to a mep type 2. Four ILC were false negative on MR-M (2 cases show mep type 1 or mep type 3). The sensitivity of Mx alone was 86.9% (20/23). When both Mx and MR-M were combined, all 23 ILC were detected. The addition of MR-M to Mx may increase sensitivity to about 100% in the detection of ILC.
Conclusion:
Unsuspicuous MR-M (mep type 1) or diffuse uptake of contrast media (mep type 3) does not rule out malignancy in the presence of suspicious findings at Mx.
