Magnetic resonance imaging and its role in the diagnosis of multicentric breast cancer.

Multicentric breast cancer is one of the most important contraindications for breast conserving therapy. While the sensitivity of mammography decreases in the dense breast, the present study was designed to assess the efficacy of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of multicentric breast cancer compared to clinical examination, mammography and sonography. In 38 of 46 patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy, multicentric breast cancer was found histologically according to the definition of Holland et al The sensitivity for the diagnosis of multicentricity in breast cancer was as follows: palpation (47%), mammography (66%), sonography (79%) and MRI (89%). While MRI had the highest sensitivity, the specificity was the lowest showing 8 false positive enhancements (proliferative fibroadenomas, fibrocystic disease and papilloma). Compared to the other methods, MRI assessed the multicentric extent of breast cancer with the highest sensitivity which appears most important in radiodense breasts when breast conserving therapy is planned.