Evaluation of ipsilateral increased vascularity in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions

The present study aimed to evaluate one-sided increased vascularity in contrast-enhanced breast MRIs in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions. A total of 36 patients with breast lesions were included. They were examined by MRIs and tissue samples were subjected to pathological diagnosis. Maximum intensity projections (MIPs) were scored, according to a previously published method. Differences in vascularity between benign and malignant breast lesions were analyzed and compared. According to MRIs for these 36 patients, there were 36 lesions (14 benign and 22 malignant lesions based on histological detection). The mean vessel number in breasts with malignant lesions was 4.0 +/- 1.5, significantly higher than in breasts with benign lesions (2.2 +/- 1.6 vessels). Mean MIP scores for breasts with malignant and benign lesions were 2.4 +/- 0.5 and 1.6 +/- 0.8, respectively. Moreover, overall sensitivity and specificity percentages of one-sided increased vascularity associated with ipsilateral malignancy were 100% and 36%, respectively. Based on morphologic and kinetic data analysis, sensitivity and specificity of breast MRIs were 100% and 64%, respectively. However, according to morphologic, kinetic, and vascular map analyses, sensitivity and specificity of breast MRIs were 100% and 57%, respectively, without increased specificity. Vessel numbers and mean MIP scores differed between breasts with benign and malignant lesions. Therefore, ipsilateral increased vascularity might be a reliable sign for differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions.