MRI Roles in the Differentiation Between Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions in Baghdad City

Abstract

Background: BC is the first most common cancer in females. Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) has improved specificity in characterizing breast lesions. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) can improve the sensitivity and specificity of MRI in the evaluation of breast lesions thus distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of DW-MRI and DCE- MRI in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions.

Methods: A descriptive study enrolled 50 females of palpable breast lumps with positive findings. This was followed by MRI (Magnetom Aera; Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany) 1.5 T) using a dedicated breast array coil.

Results: Fibroadenoma accounted for most benign lesions (8/20) while IDC accounted for majority of malignant lesions (30/30). 16/20 benign breast lesions did not show restricted diffusion on DWI while all malignant lesions showed restricted diffusion on DWI. In our study, the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value for benign and malignant lesions was 1.58 x 10-3 mm2 /s and 0.89 × 10-3 mm2 /s, respectively.

Conclusions: MR morphology, DCE-MRI and DWI are useful to characterize various breast lesions. MRI features of SI of hypointensity on T2WI with other associated features of irregular shape, spiculate margins, heterogeneous enhancement on DCE-MRI, and reduced ADC value are strong predictors of carcinoma.