Contrast Enhanced MR Findings of Lesions Associated with Radial Scar: Correlation with Histopathology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the contrast-enhanced MR findings of lesions associated with a radial scar and to compare the MR findings with the histopathology results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Mar. 2001 to Sep. 2005, 8 patients with a surgically proven radial scar who had undergone MRI, mammography, and ultrasonography were enrolled in this study. The morphological findings and dynamic enhancement pattern of the time-intensity curve were retrospectively reviewed using non-contrast and contrast-enhanced MRI. Mammography and ultrasonography were also analyzed according to the BI-RADS category and correlated with the histopathological diagnosis. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 42 to 53 years (mean, 47 years). Five patients presented with a left breast lesion and the others presented with a right breast lesion. The histopathological diagnosis associated with the radial scar were fibrocystic changes (n=1), adenosis (n=2), atypical ductal hyperplasia (n=2), lobular carcinoma in situ (n=1), ductal carcinoma in situ (n=1), and invasive ductal carcinoma (n=1). In all patients, architectural distortion without microcalcification was observed with mammography. Irregular shaped hypoechoic lesions with an indistinct, spiculated, or angular margin was observed in all patients with ultrasonography. Posterior shadowing was observed in 4cases. MR enhancement revealed two cases with foci enhancement (adenosis and fibrocystic change), five cases with non-mass-like focal enhancement (fibrocystic change, atypical ductal hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma), and one irregular homogeneous mass enhancement (atypical ducal hyperplasia). The time-signal intensity curves are as follows: persistent type (n=2), adenosis, and fibrocystic changes, respectively; plateu type (n=4), one adenosis, two atypical ductal hyperplasia, and one ductal carcinoma in situ; and washout type (n=2), lobular carcinoma in situ, and invasive ductal carcinoma, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although a combined benign or malignant pathology with a radial scar was not predicted on the preexisting image modality, contrast-enhanced MRI can help to predict a combined benign or malignant pathology with a radial scar using the morphological findings and the dynamic enhancement type of the time-intensity curve.

Contrast Enhanced MR Findings of Lesions Associated with Radial Scar: Correlation with Histopathology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the contrast-enhanced MR findings of lesions associated with a radial scar and to compare the MR findings with the histopathology results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Mar. 2001 to Sep. 2005, 8 patients with a surgically proven radial scar who had undergone MRI, mammography, and ultrasonography were enrolled in this study. The morphological findings and dynamic enhancement pattern of the time-intensity curve were retrospectively reviewed using non-contrast and contrast-enhanced MRI. Mammography and ultrasonography were also analyzed according to the BI-RADS category and correlated with the histopathological diagnosis. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 42 to 53 years (mean, 47 years). Five patients presented with a left breast lesion and the others presented with a right breast lesion. The histopathological diagnosis associated with the radial scar were fibrocystic changes (n=1), adenosis (n=2), atypical ductal hyperplasia (n=2), lobular carcinoma in situ (n=1), ductal carcinoma in situ (n=1), and invasive ductal carcinoma (n=1). In all patients, architectural distortion without microcalcification was observed with mammography. Irregular shaped hypoechoic lesions with an indistinct, spiculated, or angular margin was observed in all patients with ultrasonography. Posterior shadowing was observed in 4cases. MR enhancement revealed two cases with foci enhancement (adenosis and fibrocystic change), five cases with non-mass-like focal enhancement (fibrocystic change, atypical ductal hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma), and one irregular homogeneous mass enhancement (atypical ducal hyperplasia). The time-signal intensity curves are as follows: persistent type (n=2), adenosis, and fibrocystic changes, respectively; plateu type (n=4), one adenosis, two atypical ductal hyperplasia, and one ductal carcinoma in situ; and washout type (n=2), lobular carcinoma in situ, and invasive ductal carcinoma, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although a combined benign or malignant pathology with a radial scar was not predicted on the preexisting image modality, contrast-enhanced MRI can help to predict a combined benign or malignant pathology with a radial scar using the morphological findings and the dynamic enhancement type of the time-intensity curve.

Clinical and Mammographic Findings in pure Mucinous Breast

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review the clinical and mammographic findings of pure mucinousbreast carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In ten patients diagnosed as suffering from pure mucinous breastcarcinoma, we reviewed the clinical and mammographic findings. They were aged between 36 and 72(mean 46.3)years;nine were female and one was male. To describe breast mass, we used the terminology of the BreastImaging-Reporting and Data System developed by the American College of Radiology. RESULTS: All patients hadpalpable masses. The long-axis diameter of the tumors was between 1.0 and 7.0(mean, 2.81)cm, and in two patients,tumors were multiple. No cases involved metastatic axillary lymph nodes. During the follow-up period of 2 to78(mean, 36.3) months, no patient died. Mammographic findings included lobular circumscribed masses in fourpatients, round or oval circumscribed masses in three a lobular microlobulated mass in one, a round microlobulatedmass in one and a round spiculated mass in one. Microcalcifications were noted in two cases. Architecturaldistortion and nipple retraction were each found in one patient. CONCLUSION: On mammography, pure mucinous breastcarcinoma was most commonly seen as a lobular or round circumscribed mass; these masses were palpable and clinicalprognosis was relatively good.