Retrospective Study of False-positive Breast Magnetic Resonance Images and Pathological Results in Taiwan

Background: Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is extremely sensitive for detecting lesions, but certain characteristics of malignancies, such as the washout pattern of kinetic curves, are not specific. Correlations of false-positive MRI and specific pathological results are worthy of study. Methods: From March 2008 to September 2011, 217 cases received biopsy after dedicated breast MRI in our department. Biopsies were recommended for suspected malignancies based on the overall analysis of early subtracted phase images, postenhanced curve patterns, color mapping, and tumor morphology. Results: Twenty-nine percent of cases were false positive for malignancy, according to MRI. These lesions included radial scar, apocrine metaplasia, atypical ductal hyperplasia, sclerosing adenosis, intraductal papilloma, fibrocystic change, and mastitis. Conclusion: The ability of tumor cells to induce vascularization occurs early in the cell transformation process; therefore, premalignant breast lesions may also induce vascularization to facilitate malignant transformation. As a noninvasive method, contrast-enhanced MRI has a potential role in estimating the degree of angiogenesis and tumor microvascular permeability of breast neoplasms.