Diagnostic performance of MR imaging in patients suspected of having breast cancer


MR mammography can improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with breast cancer, but biopsy remains necessary to definitively characterize lesions. We reviewed the diagnostic performance of MR mammography in a meta-analysis of 44 studies involving patients who underwent MR imaging and biopsy for suspected breast cancer. Pooled weighted estimates showed MR had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 72%, with overall specificity varying across cancer prevalence and number of criteria used to distinguish benign from malignant lesions. We concluded that MR cannot yet replace biopsy for definitive characterization of breast lesions

 

 

Bibliographic Reference

Peters NH et al.: "Meta-analysis of MR imaging in the diagnosis of breast lesions", Radiology. 2008 Jan;246(1):116-24

 

 

Nicky Peters

Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, E01.132, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands