MR imaging evaluation of small breast cancer

Objective To explore the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in diagnosing the small breast cancer.Methods From June 2008 to June 2009,a total of 62 cases suspected by the surgeons as small breast cancer(≤2 cm),based on the information offered by clinical physical examination,mammography(MG),or/and ultrasound,were performed with breast MRI.Of them,31 had a recent mammography study.All of the imaging features of these 62 cases were retrospectively reviewed and categorized as 3,4,and 5 by using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System(BI-RADS) for analysis.Every case was confirmed by surgical pathology.The detection rate,sensitivity,and positive predictive value were compared between the MRI and MG.Results Fifty cases were pathologically confirmed as small breast cancer.Among the fifty cases,21 had a recent mammography study.The detection rate,sensitivity,and positive predictive value of MRI and mammography for the small breast cancer were 100%,94.0%,81.0% vs 85.7%,61.9%,65.0%,respectively(P0.05).Conclusions The detection rate and sensitivity of the MRI in diagnosing the small breast cancer are much higher than those of the MG.