Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI of breast: the most sensitive method for detecting multicentric carcinomas in female breast?

The first publications on the use of magnetic resonance for breast imaging (MRBI) appeared more than 10 years ago. According to the literature between 14% and 47% of all breast carcinomas are multicentric carcinoma (MCC), a substantial number of which are not detected by conventional mammography. In a prospective study our purpose was to establish a clinically relevant procedure with MRBI for women with a single suspect lesion on mammography. Eight (32%) of 25 patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma had an MCC. Seven MCC were detected with MRBI and only one was diagnosed by mammography; one was discovered with neither MRBI nor mammography. MRBI proved to be the superior technique, with a sensitivity of 0.88 compared with 0.13 for mammography.