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A comparison of mr imaging, galactography and ultrasonography in patients with nipple discharge

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of three-dimensional contrastenhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, compared with galactography and ultrasonography (US).

Methods

Fifty-five patients with bloody nipple discharge were investigated retrospectively. All patients were examined by galactography, ultrasonography and MR imaging. These three sets of findings were compared with the histopathological results from 16 intraductal biopsies, 3 excisional biopsies, 24 microdochectomies and 12 mastectomies.

Results

Contrast enhanced MR imaging demonstrated all malignant lesions including ductal carcinomain situ (DCIS). Four cases of DCIS were not visualized by ultrasonography and three malignant lesions were missed by galactography. In the MR study, segmental clumped enhancement (positive predictive value = 100%), and focal mass with smooth border (negative predictive value = 87.5%) were the statistically significant predictive factors.

Conclusions

Among the three modalities, contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MR imaging demonstrated the location and distribution of the lesions most clearly, especially in cases of ductal carcinomain situ. It has the potential to be a useful diagnostic tool for patients with nipple discharge.

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Abbreviations

MR:

Magnetic resonance

US:

Ultrasonography

DCIS:

Ductal carcinoma insitu

IDC:

Invasive ductal carcinoma

SPGR:

Spoiled gradient-recalled echo

MIP:

Maximum intensity projection

MPR:

Multiplanar reconstruction

MLO:

Mediolateral oblique

CC:

Craniocaudal

BI-RADS:

Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Miyazaki Medical College, 5200 Ohaza Kihara, Kiyotake, 889-1692, Miyazaki, Japan

    Hiroshi Nakahara & Snozo Tamura

  2. Breastopia Namba Hospital, Breastopia Medical Corporation, Japan

    Kiyoshi Namba, Ryoji Watanabe, Hidemi Furusawa & Takafumi Matsu

  3. Department of Breast Pathology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japan

    Futoshi Akiyama & Goi Sakamoto

Authors
  1. Hiroshi Nakahara
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  2. Kiyoshi Namba
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  3. Ryoji Watanabe
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  4. Hidemi Furusawa
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  5. Takafumi Matsu
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  6. Futoshi Akiyama
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  7. Goi Sakamoto
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  8. Snozo Tamura
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Nakahara, H., Namba, K., Watanabe, R. et al. A comparison of mr imaging, galactography and ultrasonography in patients with nipple discharge. Breast Cancer 10, 320–329 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02967652

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02967652

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