Magnetic resonance imaging in the study of the breast

1. The cystic component of fibrocystic disease can be differentiated reliably from breast stroma and surrounding breast parenchyma by MR imaging. This differentiation is possible for cysts of 3 to 4 mm in size as well as those that are many centimeters in diameter. 2. Cancer cannot be differentiated reliably from normal glandular tissue by visual inspection of the images made with any pulse sequence in those breasts composed of abundant, dense parenchymal tissue. In breasts composed primarily of fally tissue, visual identification and delineation of malignant lesions is easily accomplished. 3. We have recently been able to determine T1 and T2 relaxation times with modest precision. The accuracy is unknown, but probably is not high. We are not optimistic about their value at this time. The future of MR imaging as an accurate modality for the detection of malignant breast neoplasms and their differentiation from fibrocystic disease will probably depend upon the use of appropriate paramagnetic contrast substances as well as other technical improvements.