Value of MR Mammography in the Detection and Exclusion of Recurrent Breast Carcinoma

Purpose: This is a study of 140 patients undergoing MR mammography (MRM) for evaluation of possible local recurrent disease following breast-conserving surgical treatment of mammary carcinoma. MRI was performed 1-228 months (mean 28.3 months) postoperatively. Method: MRM and interpretation of the dynamic measurements were performed in a standardized manner after positioning the patient in a double breast coil. A GRE sequence (Flash 3D, TE 5 ms, TR 12 ms, FA 25°) was acquired before and 1, 2, 3, and 8 min after intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA in a dose of 0.15 mmol/kg body wt. Results: Recurrent disease was excluded in 82.8% of cases with MRM. In another 13.6% of patients, MRM was able to reliably detect recurrence of malignancy. In five cases (3.6%), MRM returned false-positive results. Conclusion: MRM is a sensitive method for detecting or excluding recurrence of malignant disease. It remains to be determined whether early detection of recurrent disease can contribute significantly to improving the prognosis in these patients.