Characterization of breast lesion morphology with delayed 3DSSMT: an adjunct to dynamic breast MRI

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2000 Feb;11(2):87-96. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1522-2586(200002)11:2<87::aid-jmri3>3.0.co;2-e.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of various morphologic criteria in distinguishing malignant from benign breast lesions using a new sequence (3DSSMT) performed immediately after dynamic breast MRI. 3DSSMT combines a water-selective spectral-spatial excitation and an on-resonance magnetization transfer pulse with three-dimensional spoiled gradient-echo imaging. Morphologic features of 87 pathologically confirmed lesions were analyzed. The presence of either skin thickening, or a combination of a spiculated or microlobulated border, with a rim, ductal, linear, or clumped enhancement pattern was 94% specific and 54% sensitive for malignancy. Conversely, the presence of either a perfectly smooth border, a well-defined margin, non-enhancing internal septations, or a macrolobulated border was 97% specific and 35% sensitive for a benign diagnosis. In conclusion, delayed 3DSSMT discriminates a significant number of benign and malignant breast lesions; it has the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy of dynamic breast MRI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Breast / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Sensitivity and Specificity