Role of breast magnetic resonance imaging in determining breast as a source of unknown metastatic lymphadenopathy

BACKGROUND: Occult primary breast cancer (OPBC) represents less than 1% of breast cancer. In only a third of cases, mammography identifies a primary tumor. We hypothesized that rotating delivery of excitation off-resonance breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would identify or exclude the breast as a primary site in patients with OPEC. METHODS: In a retrospective review, 10 patients were identified with OPEC in which MRI was performed. Malignant appearing lesions were correlated with histopathologic findings at biopsy or surgery. RESULTS: MRI identified the primary site in 8 of 10 cases as breast (80%), and excluded it in 2 cases. The extent of disease and location was accurately predicted when compared with histopathologic specimen. CONCLUSIONS: AS we continue to focus on a cure of early breast cancer, it is imperative that diagnostic images become more sensitive and specific. MRI accurately predicted OPEC in this subset of patients. Am J Surg. 1999;178:496-500. (C) 1999 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.