Intramammary extension of breast cancer: Diagnosis with MR mammography

Purpose  Intramammary extension of breast cancer was investigated using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging by comparing MR findings with the histopathology of specimens used for pretreatment planning. Materials and Methods  Thirty-nine breast cancers were examined. The dynamic protocol was performed with a 2- or 3-dimensional fast spin echo sequence (1.5 T), once before and 2-5 times immediately after Gd-DTPA administration with an original fat suppression technique. The findings were correlated with the histopathology. Results  All main tumors showed early enhancement. All with direct invasion histopathologically showed spicular enhancement. The four patients who had separate nodular enhancement showed satellite lesions histopathologically. Three-typed MR findings were found to be indicative of an intraductal component. Conclusion  Various forms of breast cancer were reliably demonstrated using MR imaging. MR imaging could be useful for the pretreatment planning for patients with breast cancer.     

多种MR成像技术在胰腺癌诊断及其可切除性探讨

目的 探讨多种MR成像技术对胰腺癌诊断及其手术可切除性判断的价值。 方法 18例经手术和/或病理证实的胰腺癌患者进行了磁共振检查,采用的磁共振序列分别为:GRE T_1WI,TSE T_2WI,脂肪抑制GRE T_1WI,延迟增强GRE T_1WI,磁共振胰胆管造影(MRCP)和三维动态对比增强MRA(3D DCE MRA)。肿瘤累及胰周血管根据程度依次分为0～4级。 结果 18例胰腺癌肿瘤病灶,在GRE T_1WI上均呈稍低信号,TSE T_2WI上均呈稍高信号。脂肪抑制GRE T_1WI上所有肿瘤均呈明 显低信号,延迟增强GRE T_1WI上肿瘤表现环形不规则强化14例,均匀强化4例,但均低于正常胰腺强化。MRCP显示胆总管与主胰管均扩张表现为典型“双管征”8例。在3D DCE MRA上,根据肿瘤与血管周径接触面>1/2为不能切除的标准,则门静脉受累56％(10/18),脾静脉受累39％(7/18),肠系膜上静脉受累67％(12/18),腹腔干及主要分支受累22％(4/18)及肠系膜上动脉受累17％(3/18)。MRI判断2例可完全手术切除,与手术结果相符。 结论 MRI快速扫描序列、脂肪抑制技术、MRCP及3D DCE MRA四大MR成像技术的综合应用能提供胰腺癌诊断及手术可切除性判断的必需信息,可以达到一步到位的诊断目标。     

锥光束乳腺CT增强检查对致密类乳腺内病灶的诊断价值研究

背景与目的：乳腺纤维腺体组织的密度与乳腺癌的发生、发展有密切关系,该研究旨在比较乳腺X线摄影（mammography,MG）、锥光束乳腺CT（cone beam breast computed tomography,CBBCT）平扫及CBBCT增强检查对具有致密类乳腺的临床就诊者的乳腺恶性肿瘤的诊断效能,探讨CBBCT增强检查的临床价值。方法：回顾2012年5月—2014年8月同时接受MG、CBBCT平扫及增强检查的患者,共有来自80例患者的80侧乳腺符合条件入组。将80侧乳腺的MG、CBBCT平扫及增强诊断结果与其病理学检查结果相比较。测量CBBCT增强前后肿物的CT值变化（△CT）,并对其强化程度及类型进行分类。结果：符合条件入组的80侧致密类乳腺,经手术或活检病理学证实,其中40侧为良性,40侧为恶性。将80侧乳腺的MG、CBBCT平扫及增强诊断结果与病理学检查结果比较,绘制受试者工作特征（receiver operating characteristic,ROC）曲线,三者的曲线下面积（area under curve,AUC）分别为0.934（95%CI：0.855~0.977）、0.971（95%CI：0.907~0.996）和0.975（95%CI：0.912~0.997）,P<0.01。以BI-RADS 4b为截断点,三者诊断的灵敏度分别为72.5%、75%和92.5%。CBBCT增强检查可见恶性肿瘤多呈明显不均匀强化,而良性肿瘤强化方式呈多样性。恶性肿瘤强化程度明显高于良性肿瘤,良、恶性肿瘤增强前后的CT值变化（△CT）之间差异有统计学意义（t=-4.180,P<0.01）。结论：CBBCT增强检查有助于提高诊断的准确率及灵敏度,对提高具有致密类乳腺的临床就诊者乳腺肿瘤的诊断效能和良恶 性肿瘤的鉴别具有较高价值。     

带蒂胸大肌肌皮瓣移植在头颈癌放疗后手术中的运用

目的:探讨头颈癌放疗后因肿瘤复发进行挽救性手术,带蒂胸大肌肌皮瓣修复手术切除后软组织缺损的可行性和价值。方法:7例头颈部恶性肿瘤进行了根治性放疗后局部复发或颈淋巴结转移,通过手术切除病灶,颈淋巴结清扫,同侧带蒂胸大肌肌皮瓣移植修复软组织缺损创面。结果:7例移植的带蒂胸大肌肌皮瓣全部成活,有2例出现切口裂开,愈合困难。结论:在头颈癌放疗后手术中,带蒂胸大肌肌皮瓣移植是修复手术切除后软组织缺损的有效方法。     

Accuracy of Preoperative Urinary Symptoms,Urinalysis, Computed Tomography and Cystoscopic Findings for the Diagnosis of Urinary Bladder Invasion in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Background: To determine the accuracy of preoperative urinary symptoms, urinalysis, computed tomography (CT) and cystoscopic findings for the diagnosis of urinary bladder invasion in patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Records of patients with colorectal cancer and a suspicion of bladder invasion, who underwent tumor resection with partial or total cystectomy between 2002 and 2013 at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, were reviewed. Correlations between preoperative urinary symptoms, urinalysis, cystoscopicfinding, CT imaging and final pathological reports were analyzed. Results: This study included 90 eligible cases (71% male). The most common site of primary colorectal cancer was the sigmoid colon (44%), followed by the rectum (33%). Final pathological reports showed definite bladder invasion in 53 cases (59%). Significant features for predicting definite tumor invasion were gross hematuria (OR 13.6, sensitivity 39%, specificity 73%), and visible tumor during cystoscopy (OR 5.33, sensitivity 50%, specificity 84%). Predictive signs in CT imagingwere gross tumor invasion (OR 7.07, sensitivity 89%, specificity 46%), abnormal enhancing mass at bladder wall (OR 4.09, sensitivity 68%, specificity 66%), irregular bladder mucosa (OR 3.53, sensitivity 70%, specificity 60% ), and loss of perivesical fat plane (OR 3.17, sensitivity 81%, specificity 43%). However, urinary analysis and other urinary tract symptoms were poor predictors of bladder involvement. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that the most relevant preoperative predictors of definite bladder invasion in patients with colorectal cancer are gross hematuria, a visible tumor during cystoscopy, and abnormal CT findings.     

Importance of the retro-mammary space as a route of breast cancer metastasis

BACKGROUND: There are many cases of breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastases without lymphatic invasion. We hypothesized that in these cases cancer cells may pass through the retro-mammary space (RS) into lymph nodes and that axillary lymph node metastases may correlate with the tumor invasion of the RS. METHODS: A total of 127 patients who had undergone radical operation between April 1997 and April 2001 were studied. Whether or not the tumor had invaded the RS was histologically examined with hematoxylin and eosin staining of sections made at the point where the distance between the tumor and the fascia of the major pectoral muscle was the shortest. RESULTS: Eighty-five cases did not have lymphatic invasion. Twenty-nine of these 85 cases had RS invasion and 56 cases did not. Among the 29 cases with RS invasion, 14 cases had lymph node metastases. In contrast, of 56 cases without RS invasion only 3 cases had lymph node involvement. Of the 85 cases without lymphatic invasion, the relationship between RS invasion and lymph node invasion was statistically significant (RS(+) vs. RS(-), p<0.0001, chi-square test). For all 127 cases, if cases showing either lymphatic invasion or RS invasion were diagnosed with lymph node involvement, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and negative predictive value were 93.5%, 65.4%, 75.6% and 94.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that lymph node metastases may occur via the tumor cell migration through lymphatic vessels and the RS.     

胰腺癌多层螺旋CT影像学表现

目的分析胰腺癌的多层螺旋cT影像学表现。方法对66例胰腺癌患者行多层螺旋CT多期容积扫描并薄层重建,分析肿瘤分布、形态、大小、密度、CT增强表现、与周围血管的关系、周围脂肪受侵情况、淋巴结及其他脏器转移情况。结果肿瘤分布于胰腺头及钩突27例,颈部12例,体部19例,尾部10例。肿瘤大小为1．0—3．0cm12例,3．0cm以上54例。63例形态不规则。平扫低密度14例,等密度50例,高密度0例,混合密度2例。动脉期无强化49例,中等度强化15例,明显强化2例。门静脉期轻度强化13例,中等度强化且强化不均匀63例。45例胰腺导管扩张,21例胰腺导管无扩张。57例胰腺周围脂肪间隙不清楚。胰腺周围、腹腔、腹膜后淋巴结转移有无转移33例,无转移33例。39例患者发生肝脏、肺等远处脏器转移。61例不同程度累及胰周血管。结论胰腺癌的多层螺旋CT表现为：肿瘤常分布于胰头及钩突,形态不规则,多数大于3．0cm,胰腺导管扩张常见,平扫大多数为等密度,增强动脉期多数为无强化,门静脉期轻中度强化,周围脂肪间隙及胰周血管多受累。     

A proposal for a new histological classification scheme for predicting short-term tumor recurrence and death in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Tumor recurrence rate (TRR) and mortality rate (MR) of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast in short-term follow-up are relatively low. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to identify patients at risk of early recurrence or death after surgery. The aim of this study was to establish a new histological prognostic classification scheme for IDC in order accurately to predict the short-term outcome. The following histological parameters were analyzed in 201 IDCs: 1) tumor size, 2) structural atypia, 3) nuclear atypia, 4) number of mitotic figures, 5) fibrotic focus (FF), 6) vascular invasion, 7) tumor necrosis, 8) skin invasion, 9) muscle invasion, 10) nodal status and 11) extramammary fat invasion. Multivariate analysis showed that nuclear atypia, presence of FF, and the invasive length of fat invasion (ILFI) were the most important histological parameters correlated with TRR or MR of IDCs. Accordingly, a new histological classification based on nuclear atypia, FF and ILFI (Nucleus-Fibrotic focus-Fat invasion, NFF) was devised. Comparative studies were performed with the following existing prognostic classifications: 1) histological grade, 2) modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson histological grade, 3) prognostic index and 4) pathological TNM (pTNM) stage classifications. Patient grouping defined by NFF classification significantly correlated with tumor recurrence or death of IDCs in all cases, cases at stages I and II, those without lymph node metastasis and those who were estrogen receptor (ER)-positive after adjustment for the other four classifications, using multivariate analysis. NFF classification appeared superior to existing prognostic classifications for the accurate prediction of the short-term outcome for patients with IDCs in low risk groups.     

A Proposal for a New Histological Classification Scheme for Predicting Short-term Tumor Recurrence and Death in Patients with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast

Tumor recurrence rate (TRR) and mortality rate (MR) of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast in short-term follow-up are relatively low. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to identify patients at risk of early recurrence or death after surgery. The aim of this study was to establish a new histological prognostic classification scheme for IDC in order accurately to predict the short-term outcome. The following histological parameters were analyzed in 201 IDCs: 1) tumor size, 2) structural atypia, 3) nuclear atypia, 4) number of mitotic figures, 5) fibrotic focus (FF), 6) vascular invasion, 7) tumor necrosis, 8) skin invasion, 9) muscle invasion, 10) nodal status and 11) extramammary fat invasion. Multivariate analysis showed that nuclear atypia, presence of FF, and the invasive length of fat invasion (ILFI) were the most important histological parameters correlated with TRR or MR of IDCs. Accordingly, a new histological classification based on nuclear atypia, FF and ILFI (Nucleus-Fibrotic focus-Fat invasion, NFF) was devised. Comparative studies were performed with the following existing prognostic classifications: 1) histological grade, 2) modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson histological grade, 3) prognostic index and 4) pathological TNM (pTNM) stage classifications. Patient grouping defined by NFF classification significantly correlated with tumor recurrence or death of IDCs in all cases, cases at stages I and II, those without lymph node metastasis and those who were estrogen receptor (ER)-positive after adjustment for the other four classifications, using multivariate analysis. NFF classification appeared superior to existing prognostic classifications for the accurate prediction of the short-term outcome for patients with IDCs in low risk groups.     

The preservation of minor pectoralis muscle in axillary dissection for breast cancer: functional and cosmetic evaluation.

We have evaluated, in two groups of 50 patients each submitted to axillary dissection for breast cancer (10 mastectomies and 90 conservative procedures), the advantage of the preservation of the minor pectoralis muscle. This muscle was preserved in one group and removed in the other. Whereas in the immediate postoperative period complications (shoulder pain, functional impairment, quantity or duration of serum drainage from the axilla) were the same in the two groups, at longer follow-up (more than 6 months after surgery) the patients whose pectoralis minor muscle was preserved showed a reduction in the incidence of partial atrophy and fibrosis of the pectoralis major muscle. Patients treated with conservation of the pectoralis minor muscle showed this atrophy in 6% of cases vs 54% observed in the other patients. This fact may be related to disruption of the pectoral nerves, which are in close contact with the pectoralis minor during their course from the brachial plexus to the pectoralis major muscle.     

乳腺原发性恶性淋巴瘤：附9例报告

本文报告9例经病理证实的乳腺原发性恶性淋巴瘤,占同期乳腺恶性肿瘤0.55％。9例中肿块切除3例次,全乳腺切除5例次,根治术3例次。8例化疗,其中1例辅助放疗。随访率88.9％(8/9)。5年生存率33.3％(2/6)。本组病例特点:年轻患者较多,且恶性程度高;双侧乳腺发病率高;肿块多为非浸润性且生长迅速;皮肤肌肉、腋淋巴结受累少,较早出现全身播散。预后明显较乳腺癌差。作者认为根治术加化疗的疗效相对较好。     

Efficacy of 3D-MR mammography for breast conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: One of the main roles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer is to shrink large tumors to increase patient eligibility for breast conserving surgery. Three dimensional MR Mammography (3D-MRM) can detect tumor extension more accurately compared with mammography and Ultrasonography (US). Therefore, the shrinkage pattern observed on 3D-MRM was analyzed with regard to several pathological factors. METHODS: A total of 27 breast cancer cases were examined by 3D-MRM before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The volume reduction and shrinkage patterns were assessed and compared with the pathological diagnosis. RESULTS: There were two shrinkage patterns. Twelve of 25 evaluable breast cancers (48%) showed a concentric shrinkage pattern while 13 cases (52%) showed a dendritic shrinkage pattern. The cases with concentric shrinkage were good candidates for breast conserving surgery, But tumors showing dendritic shrinkage often had positive margins necessitating mastectomy. Pathologically, tumors with a papillotubular pattern, Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity, low nuclear grade and c-erbB 2 negativity tended to show dendritic shrinkage. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-MRM is a useful modality for evaluating whether breast conserving surgery can be safely done in the neoadjuvant setting.     

原发性乳腺双向型滑膜肉瘤多学科讨论

  目的  探讨原发性乳腺双向型滑膜肉瘤（bidirectional synovial sarcoma,BSS）多学科协作的诊治流程。  方法  回顾性分析2017年5月贵州省人民医院收治的1例原发性乳腺BSS患者的诊疗过程。患者经术前充分讨论与准备,顺利完成右乳房巨大肿瘤姑息性切除、部分胸大肌切除及胸壁组织皮瓣修复整形手术。  结果  患者机体瘤负荷明显减轻,生存质量提高,为进一步延长总生存期提供治疗条件。  结论  原发性乳腺BSS早诊断、早治疗可使预后相对较好,患者的就诊意识对该病的预后具有影响。      

四肢横纹肌肉瘤的MRI和CT影像学特征——附9例报告

背景与目的:四肢横纹肌肉瘤的影像学研究少见报道,本研究探讨四肢横纹肌肉瘤的MRI和CT影像学特征.方法:对9例四肢横纹肌肉瘤的MRI和CT资料进行回顾性分析.结果:8例进行了MRI检查的病变与肌肉相比,在T1WI都表现为等、低信号相混杂,以前者为主;在T2WI则均呈高信号与等和/或低信号相混杂的表现;注射造影剂后,病变都表现为显著强化,且明显不均.其中5例边界不清,周围可见水肿,3例边界清楚,周围未见水肿.3例进行了CT检查的病变与肌肉相比在平扫可见等、低密度成分,以前者为主,均未见钙化.其中1例边界清楚,2例边界不清;1例进行了增强扫描,表现为显著强化,且明显不均.全部9例患者的病变中8例可见坏死或囊变,均未见出血以及邻近骨骼破坏,但3例包绕邻近血管,1例形成静脉瘤栓.结论:MRI和CT检查若显示发生在四肢的软组织肿瘤,有坏死,强化明显且不均匀时,要在鉴别诊断中考虑横纹肌肉瘤,在没有出血、钙化及邻近骨破坏时更要考虑其可能性.     

乳腺癌Auchincloss术中保护肋间臂神经、胸肌神经的意义

目的:探讨在乳腺癌Auchincloss术中保护肋间臂神经、胸肌神经的临床意义.方法:对2008年9月-2010年10月间的38例乳腺癌患者,在Auchincloss术中行腋淋巴结清扫时,注意游离并保护肋间臂神经、胸肌神经,随访观察术前、术后患者胸大肌功能、胸大肌外缘厚度、上臂内侧及腋部皮肤感觉功能的变化;腋窝淋巴结清扫的数量,对术中保护肋间臂神经、胸肌神经的价值进行评估.结果:38例患者中患侧上臂内侧及腋部皮肤感觉正常32例,感觉异常仅2例,占5.6%,4例腋窝淋巴结明显肿大与之黏连,放弃保留肋间臂神经;38例患者均成功保留胸肌神经,经术后随访观察,胸大肌功能均为5级,术后6个月复查B超,胸大肌外缘厚度与术前比较无明显差异.结论:在乳腺癌Auchincloss术中注意保护肋间臂神经、胸肌神经可有效避免术后上臂内侧皮肤感觉障碍及胸大肌萎缩,能明显改善患者术后生存质量,对手术疗效并无影响.     

Bilateral breast MR imaging: is it superior to conventional methods for the detection of contralateral breast cancer?

Background Breast MR imaging has emerged as a highly sensitive modality for the imaging of breast tumors. However, there have been no reports concerning the usefulness of bilateral breast MRI to evaluate the contralateral breast in Japan. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of primary bilateral breast cancer, and to investigate the role of bilateral breast MRI in the detection of contralateral breast cancer. Methods A retrospective review was performed of 556 consecutive women who had undergone surgery for the primary breast cancer. MR imaging was performed on a 1.5-T system. Both the breasts were examined in the coronal plane on the first-, second-, and fourth-phase dynamic images, acquired at 30, 90 s, and 4.5 min, respectively. The affected single breast was sagittally examined on images obtained in the third phase at 3 min. Results Twenty-four (4.3%) patients had bilateral breast cancer, 14 (2.5%) had synchronous cancer and 10 patients (1.8%) had metachronous cancer. In the 14 cases with synchronous cancer, bilateral breast malignancy was suspected at the time of the initial diagnosis in 6 cases. The detection rate of 18 contralateral breast cancer cases by only MMG, only US, MMG and US, and MRI were 50% (9/18), 67% (12/18), 78% (14/18) and 100% (17/17), respectively. For 8 of these cases with a second synchronous cancer, the corresponding rates were 75, 88, 100 and 100%, respectively. For the 10 cases with a second metachronous cancer, the rates were 30, 50, 60 and 100%, respectively. Conclusion Bilateral breast MRI is a more sensitive for the detection of contralateral breast cancers compared with conventional imaging methods. In particular, bilateral MRI also allows detection of metachronous contralateral cancers at an earlier stage during the postoperative follow-up period.     

Carcinoma of the cervix: Value of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in assessing early stromal invasion

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (dynamic MR imaging) in the evaluation of preinvasive and early invasive cancer of the cervix. Methods Twenty-nine women with untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with either no stromal invasion or early stromal invasion underwent pretreatment MR imaging and dynamic MR imaging within 4 weeks of surgical evaluation. The images were evaluated for tumor detection and compared with results of histologic examination of the surgical specimens. Results The lesions in 17 cases with histologically proven stromal invasion of 4 mm or greater were detected with dynamic MR imaging, whereas lesions in only 8 of these cases were detected with T2 imaging. In 9 cases with stromal invasion between 4.0 mm and 5.0 mm, lesions were represented as early phase focal enhancement on dynamic MR images, but not detected on T2-weighted images. In the 12 cases with less than 4 mm stromal invasion, no lesions were visualized on either T2-weighted images or dynamic MR images, except in 1 case of glandular involvement without stromal invasion that appeared as enhancement on early-phase dynamic MR imaging. Conclusion Dynamic MR imaging detected more lesions of early stromal invasion in pretreatment imaging for cervical cancer than nonenhanced MR imaging.     

乳腺癌术后即时扩展型背阔肌肌皮瓣乳房重建27例分析

目的探讨乳腺癌改良根治术后应用扩展型背阔肌肌皮瓣即时乳房重建的疗效。方法对27例乳腺癌患者施行乳腺癌改良根治术（其中6例行保留皮肤的乳腺癌改良根治术,21例行保留乳头、乳晕的乳腺癌改良根治术）,术后即时切取包括背阔肌及其表面的脂肪和岛状皮肤、髂嵴上方脂肪、背阔肌前沿侧胸部脂肪和肩胛区脂肪构成扩展型背阔肌肌皮瓣,转移至胸壁重建乳房。结果27例即时乳房重建全部获得成功。切除乳房的组织量为180-330ml（平均215ml）,移植重建乳房的扩展型背阔肌肌皮瓣组织量为210-380ml（平均245ml）。24例术后辅助化疗,5例辅助放射治疗。随访6～24个月（中位随访12个月）,所有患者均生存,术后无一例局部复发、转移。美容效果：优17例,良6例,一般3例,差1例。结论乳腺癌患者行保留皮肤或乳头乳晕改良根治术后应用扩展型背阔肌肌皮瓣即时乳房重建形态良好,不影响术后辅助治疗和远期疗效,作为目前乳腺肿瘤治疗的一种有效补充手段,值得临床推广。     

Surgical treatment of stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer

Data on five-year survival were evaluated for 258 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (stage IIIA) (N2). In 155 patients (60%), N2 tumor was detected during surgery. Total resection was carried out in 179 (69.4%), subtotal--79 (30.6%). Total lymph node dissection was not employed in the latter group. Lateral thoracotomy was used in 213 cases. Transsternal procedure was performed in 45 cases of bulky tumor and extensive invasion of mediastinal fat. A comparison of five-year survival data failed to establish any relationship between survival and postoperative radiochemotherapy in radically-operated patients. It was found that surgery for non-small lung N2 tumors with mediastinal involvement is indicated and may be effective if total lymph node dissection is performed.     

The role of contrast-enhanced high resolution MRI in the surgical planning of breast cancer

The role of contrast-enhanced high resolution MRI for planning surgery in breast cancer was evaluated. Of 72 patients examined, 57 patients had invasive ductal carcinoma, 2 had mucinous carcinoma, 1 had medullary carcinoma, 7 had invasive lobular carcinoma, 2 had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 3 had Paget’s disease. A 1.5 T Signa imager (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) was used with a dedicated breast coil. The pulse sequence based on RARE (rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement) was used with a fat suppression technique. After examining both breasts, the affected breast alone was examined with Gd enhancement. Linear and/or spotty enhancement on MRI was considered to suggest DCIS or intraductal spread in the area surrounding the invasive cancer. Of 72 patients, 50 showed linear and/or spotty enhancement on MRI and 41 of those 50 patients had DCIS or intraductal spread. In contrast, 22 of 72 patients were considered to have little or no intraductal spread on MRI and 17 of the 22 patients had no or little intraductal spread on pathological examination. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting intraductal spread on MRI were 89%, 82% and 81%, respectively. Discrepancies in the estimated extent of intraductal spread were less than 2 cm in 90% of the patients according to pathological mapping. High resolution MRI was considered useful in detecting intraductal spread and in estimating its extent, however, larger study using precise correlation with pathology is necessary.