Contrast-enhanced breast MRI in patients with suspicious microcalcifications on mammography: Results of a multicenter trial

Contrast-Enhanced Breast MRI in Patients with Suspicious Microcalcifications on Mammography: Results of a Multicenter Trial 1. Massimo Bazzocchi1, 2. Chiara Zuiani1, 3. Pietro Panizza2, 4. Chiara Del Frate1, 5. Franca Soldano3, 6. Miriam Isola3, 7. Francesco Sardanelli4, 8. Gian Marco Giuseppetti5, 9. Giovanni Simonetti6, 10. Vincenzo Lattanzio7 and 11. Alessandro Del Maschio2 + Author Affiliations 1. 1Institute of Radiology, University of Udine, Via Colugna 50, Udine 33100, Italy. 2. 2Department of Radiology, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. 3. 3Department of Medical Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. 4. 4Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Istituto Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy. 5. 5Institute of Radiology, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy. 6. 6Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. 7. 7Department of Senology, Policlinico Universitario Bari, Bari, Italy. Next Section Abstract OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to test dynamic MRI in evaluating mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS. One hundred twelve patients with mammographically detected microcalcifications with BI-RADS category 5 (n = 78) or 4 (n = 34) lesions were studied at 17 centers a using 3D gradient-echo dynamic coronal technique (≤ 3 mm thickness) and 0.1 mmol/kg of gadoteridol. A pathologic sample was obtained in all cases. Agreement between the major diameter measured on mammography, MRI, or both and the major diameter measured at pathologic examination was calculated in 62 cases. RESULTS. Of the 112 lesions, pathologic examination revealed 37 benign lesions, 33 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 42 invasive carcinomas. The specificity of MRI for benign lesions was 68%. Considering the subgroups of calcifications alone and calcifications associated with masses, the specificity values became 79% and 33%, respectively. The sensitivity of MRI for DCIS was 79%. Analysis of the two subgroups showed sensitivity values of 68% for calcifications alone and of 1% for calcifications associated with masses. The sensitivity for invasive carcinomas was 93%. Analysis of the two subgroups showed sensitivity values to be 92% for calcifications alone and 94% for calcifications associated with masses. Considering the overall results, the sensitivity of