Breast Ductal Carcinoma in Situ: Morphologic and Kinetic MRI Findings

Abstract

Background: Adequate diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) could lead to efficacious treatment. Due to the fact that DCIS lesions can progress to invasive carcinomas and that the sensitivity of the standard examination mammography is between 70 and 80%, use of a more sensitive diagnostic tool was needed. In detection of DCIS, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) has the sensitivity up to 96%. Objectives: Morphological features and kinetic parameters were evaluated to define the most regular morphological, kinetic and morpho-kinetic patterns on MRI assessment of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Patients and Methods: We retrospectively assessed eighteen patients with 23 histologically confirmed lesions (mean age, 52.4 10.5 years). All patients were clinically and mammographically examined prior to MRI examination. Results: DCIS appeared most frequently as non-mass-like lesions (12 lesions, 52.17%). The differences in the frequency of lesion types were statistically significant (P Conclusion: Non-mass-like lesions, lesions with focal or segmental distribution, with a plateau enhancement curve type were the most frequent findings of DCIS lesions on MRI.