Learning objectives
The fibrocystic breast disease may present as a non-mass enhancement (NME) in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
mimicking suspected malignancies enhancements. The NME are used to describe an area that is neither a mass or focus and is classified according to its distribution (focal,
linear,
segmental,
regional,
multiple regions,
diffuse) and these characteristics can be considered suspicious or not.
In fibrocystic changes,
the enhancements are most often associated with clustered microcysts.
This can be seen when analyzing the pre-contrast images (mainly T2-weighted fat-saturated images) with...
Background
We reviewed the literature and correlated it with selected cases from our hospital’s digital bank,
of patients with MRI findings suggestive of fibrocystic alterations that had also an anatomopathological proof of benignity.
Findings and procedure details
The fibrocystic breast disease is a spectrum of benign alterations,
and the most frequent findings is the presence of simple cysts and grouped microcysts.
These findings most commonly occur in women in the middle or late menacme (peak incidence between 40-50 years old) and tend to resolve after the menopause.
These cysts are formed as a result of the involution process of the breast lobes.
The surrounding stroma with the apocrine epithelium secretes fluids that fill the terminal lobular duct units,
dilating them and forming...
Conclusion
The importance of breast MRI is increasing as a routine diagnostic tool,
as well as a screening method in women with high risk of breast cancer.
Therefore,
it is extremely important to recognize pitfalls and avoid unnecessary biopsies.
The finding of NME associated with grouped microcysts in MRI,
suggests benign changes of the breast rather than malignancy.
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