Lobular breast cancer: how useful is breast magnetic resonance imaging?

To review magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in lobular breast carcinoma, the in situ or infiltrating subtype, with special attention to the dynamic curves with the aim to evaluate possible differences with ductal carcinoma. In 2 years, 27 patients with lobular and one with tubular carcinoma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tumori 2001-07, Vol.87 (4), p.232-238
Main Authors: Trecate, G, Tess, J D, Vergnaghi, D, Bergonzi, S, Mariani, G, Ferraris, C, Musumeci, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Carcinoma, Lobular - pathology
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
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Summary:To review magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in lobular breast carcinoma, the in situ or infiltrating subtype, with special attention to the dynamic curves with the aim to evaluate possible differences with ductal carcinoma. In 2 years, 27 patients with lobular and one with tubular carcinoma underwent MRI at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan. All lobular carcinomas demonstrated early or late enhancement (100% sensitivity), without significant differences in morphology compared with ductal carcinoma, but frequently with a different shape of the dynamic curves. Due to its infiltrative growth associated to only limited connective tissue reaction, lobular carcinoma often encounters difficulties in mammographic diagnosis. In contrast, MRI can be very helpful in evaluating the true extension of the disease, especially when breast conservation is considered. Due to a more consistent fibrotic stroma, these lesions sometimes show a delayed enhancement, which suggests that more than one set of subtracted images should be evaluated during MRI analysis.
ISSN:0300-8916
2038-2529
DOI:10.1177/030089160108700405