Dynamic MR Imaging of Breast Lesions: Correlation with Microvessel Distribution Pattern and Histologic Characteristics of Prognosis

Purpose: To evaluate the association of dynamic enhancement parameters of benign and malignant breast lesions at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with microvessel distribution and histologic prognostic tumor characteristics. Materials and Methods: Regional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Surgical resection specimens of breast lesions (32 benign, 86 malignant) in 118 patients (age range, 28–86 years; mean, 58 years) who had undergone dynamic T1-weighted MR imaging of both breasts were included in the study. Different MR enhancement parameters and microvessel density (MVD) distribution were determined. In malignant lesions, TNM stage, tumor grade, proliferative activity, and hormone receptor expression were determined. Spearman correlation coefficients; Wilcoxon, Fisher exact, Kruskal Wallis, and χ2 tests; and logistic regression analysis were used for evaluation. Results: Malignant lesions exhibited a higher ratio of microvessels in tumor periphery versus tumor center than did beni...