Radial scar: from conventional imaging to the new techniques. Case reports

The role of MR-mammography in radial scar was assessed in 4 female patients. All 4 patients showed mammographic findings of radial scar and underwent dynamic MR-mammography. MR-mammographic findings were compared with histopathological results. On MR-mammography a focal enhancing lesion with irregular margins, plateau or rapid wash-out time/signal intensity curves, with maximum signal intensity > 100% were documented in the 4 patients. The histological diagnosis identified i case of infiltrating lobular carcinoma, 1 case of atypical hyperplasia and 2 cases of typical hyperplasia. In the preliminary study, MR-mammography was superior to mammography in the assessment of the extent and margins of the lesions. However, in the 4 study patients it could not accurately differentiate between carcinoma and benign lesions. It should be observed that lesions suggestive of radial scar have to be removed by surgery.